Firstpost
  • Home
  • Video Shows
    Vantage Firstpost America Firstpost Africa First Sports
  • World
    US News
  • Explainers
  • News
    India Opinion Cricket Tech Entertainment Sports Health Photostories
  • Asia Cup 2025
Apple Incorporated Modi ji Justin Trudeau Trending

Sections

  • Home
  • Live TV
  • Videos
  • Shows
  • World
  • India
  • Explainers
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Cricket
  • Health
  • Tech/Auto
  • Entertainment
  • Web Stories
  • Business
  • Impact Shorts

Shows

  • Vantage
  • Firstpost America
  • Firstpost Africa
  • First Sports
  • Fast and Factual
  • Between The Lines
  • Flashback
  • Live TV

Events

  • Raisina Dialogue
  • Independence Day
  • Champions Trophy
  • Delhi Elections 2025
  • Budget 2025
  • US Elections 2024
  • Firstpost Defence Summit
Trending:
  • Charlie Kirk shot dead
  • Nepal protests
  • Russia-Poland tension
  • Israeli strikes in Qatar
  • Larry Ellison
  • Apple event
  • Sunjay Kapur inheritance row
fp-logo
26/11 attacks: Ex-home secretary Madhukar Gupta denies reports that MHA was 'partying' in Murree
Whatsapp Facebook Twitter
Whatsapp Facebook Twitter
Apple Incorporated Modi ji Justin Trudeau Trending

Sections

  • Home
  • Live TV
  • Videos
  • Shows
  • World
  • India
  • Explainers
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Cricket
  • Health
  • Tech/Auto
  • Entertainment
  • Web Stories
  • Business
  • Impact Shorts

Shows

  • Vantage
  • Firstpost America
  • Firstpost Africa
  • First Sports
  • Fast and Factual
  • Between The Lines
  • Flashback
  • Live TV

Events

  • Raisina Dialogue
  • Independence Day
  • Champions Trophy
  • Delhi Elections 2025
  • Budget 2025
  • US Elections 2024
  • Firstpost Defence Summit
  • Home
  • India
  • 26/11 attacks: Ex-home secretary Madhukar Gupta denies reports that MHA was 'partying' in Murree

26/11 attacks: Ex-home secretary Madhukar Gupta denies reports that MHA was 'partying' in Murree

FP Staff • June 11, 2016, 15:10:58 IST
Whatsapp Facebook Twitter

Responding to Times Now report that top MHA officials were partying in Pakistan’s Murree during the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, former Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta told ANI “I don’t know why reports are saying that we were holidaying in Murree hill station. All the MHA officials stayed at Murree for few hours because hosts had made arrangements.”

Advertisement
Subscribe Join Us
Add as a preferred source on Google
Prefer
Firstpost
On
Google
26/11 attacks: Ex-home secretary Madhukar Gupta denies reports that MHA was 'partying' in Murree

In response to a Times Now report that said top MHA officials were partying in Pakistan’s Murree during the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, former Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta told ANI “I don’t know why reports are saying that we were holidaying in Murree hill station. All the MHA officials stayed at Murree for a few hours because the hosts (Pakistan) had made arrangements.”

Don't know y reports say we wr holidaying in Murree, we stayed few hours coz hosts made arrangements: Madhukar Gupta pic.twitter.com/mamagT2vsz

— ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2016

On Thursday, Times Now had reported that a team of top intel officials who were visiting Pakistan for talks were asked to extend their stay. Pakistan Government ensured they stayed back and were taken to Murree, a hill station close to Islamabad. They were taken to a no network zone which meant they were out of reach. Two top officials have confirmed that Pakistan tricked India into ensuring MHA top brass stayed back while the attacks were on. A former MHA official told The Times of India, Pakistan had insisted they meet the Interior Minister and that’s the reason for their extended stay. However, Gupta did accept that they found the gesture of the Pakistan government of accommodating Indian officials in Murree odd.

Madhukar Gupta former Home Sec on Indian delegation extending stay in Pakistan 2008: We did find it odd about Murree pic.twitter.com/ta8RQEoTs8

— ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2016
More from India
Wife and son watching, Indian-origin man beheaded at US motel; suspect illegal migrant, arrested Wife and son watching, Indian-origin man beheaded at US motel; suspect illegal migrant, arrested Why physiotherapists in India will no longer be allowed to use ‘Dr’ before their names Why physiotherapists in India will no longer be allowed to use ‘Dr’ before their names

“Though we had been staying in Islamabad for two days, the host country made special plans to shift us to a nearby hill resort in Murree. In retrospect, it leads us to suspect if the real motive was to delay or weaken the response of Indian security brass to the 26/11 strikes,” said a former bureaucrat told The Times of India. Dismissing reports that there was no television signal in Murree, Gupta said that he got a call from India and immediately switched the TV on. When he saw the attack in Mumbai, he contacted the senior leadership.

Also inaccurate that no signal in Murree, I got a call from India, switched on TV, saw the attack in Mumbai: M.Gupta pic.twitter.com/9m9DXp1fHt

— ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2016

Gupta further said, “As soon as we saw the terror strike, we spoke to whoever had to be spoken. Nobody knew 26/11 would happen.” He termed it a mere “speculation” that their stay was extended because Pakistan knew about 26/11.

Also inaccurate that no signal in Murree, I got a call from India, switched on TV, saw the attack in Mumbai: M.Gupta pic.twitter.com/9m9DXp1fHt

— ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2016

Impact Shorts

More Shorts
News18 SheShakti 2025: Voices of cinema, sport and music redefine nation-building

News18 SheShakti 2025: Voices of cinema, sport and music redefine nation-building

Women leaders at News18 SheShakti 2025 redefine what it means to build a nation

Women leaders at News18 SheShakti 2025 redefine what it means to build a nation

However, he did blame Pakistan and its “duplicitous” role in the Mumbai terror attacks. Gupta also rejected the claim that the absence of top officers of internal security at the MHA during the attacks delayed the decision-making process, according to a report by Zee News. “An Under-Secretary from Home Ministry said control room was not manned. Then this was corrected. Information was conveyed that day,” he said.

Duplicitous role of Pakistan is absolutely clear, its not the first time: Madhukar Gupta, former Home Secy pic.twitter.com/scJptM1JkM

— ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2016
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Gupta further questioned how his physical presence would have changed things during the 26/11 attacks and what purpose would it serve to investigate eight years later.

All kinds of things were said eg NSG arrived late. How could that have changed with my physical presence? : M.Gupta pic.twitter.com/E2TFx4emcK

— ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2016

Shivraj Patil, former Home Minister wants a proof from the people who are claiming that there was a conspiracy to delay Indian officials in Murree.

Those who r saying there was a conspiracy to delay them in Murree, there has to be proof, I can't say: Shivraj Patil pic.twitter.com/ASoijKLWau

— ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2016
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Responding to reports that the NSG arrived late, Patil said that it was ready within an hour but there was no aircraft. Claiming that law and order is a state subject and the Mumbai police was handling the attacks, he said that they still sent their forces quickly.

Tags
India Pakistan 26/11 NewsTracker Mumbai terror attacks NSG Islamabad Shivraj Patil MHA Murree 26/11 Mumbai attack Madhukar Gupta
End of Article
Latest News
Find us on YouTube
Subscribe
End of Article

Impact Shorts

News18 SheShakti 2025: Voices of cinema, sport and music redefine nation-building

News18 SheShakti 2025: Voices of cinema, sport and music redefine nation-building

At News18 SheShakti 2025 Delhi, women from sports, cinema, and music discussed breaking barriers. Kriti Sanon and Sanya Malhotra focused on equity in cinema, Mira Erda and Ashalata Devi on sports challenges, and Kavita Krishnamurti stressed humility and perseverance for lasting success.

More Impact Shorts

Top Stories

Charlie Kirk, shot dead in Utah, once said gun deaths are 'worth it' to save Second Amendment

Charlie Kirk, shot dead in Utah, once said gun deaths are 'worth it' to save Second Amendment

From governance to tourism, how Gen-Z protests have damaged Nepal

From governance to tourism, how Gen-Z protests have damaged Nepal

Did Russia deliberately send drones into Poland’s airspace?

Did Russia deliberately send drones into Poland’s airspace?

Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages: Qatar PM after Doha strike

Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages: Qatar PM after Doha strike

Charlie Kirk, shot dead in Utah, once said gun deaths are 'worth it' to save Second Amendment

Charlie Kirk, shot dead in Utah, once said gun deaths are 'worth it' to save Second Amendment

From governance to tourism, how Gen-Z protests have damaged Nepal

From governance to tourism, how Gen-Z protests have damaged Nepal

Did Russia deliberately send drones into Poland’s airspace?

Did Russia deliberately send drones into Poland’s airspace?

Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages: Qatar PM after Doha strike

Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages: Qatar PM after Doha strike

Top Shows

Vantage Firstpost America Firstpost Africa First Sports

QUICK LINKS

  • Mumbai Rains
Latest News About Firstpost
Most Searched Categories
  • Web Stories
  • World
  • India
  • Explainers
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Cricket
  • Tech/Auto
  • Entertainment
  • IPL 2025
NETWORK18 SITES
  • News18
  • Money Control
  • CNBC TV18
  • Forbes India
  • Advertise with us
  • Sitemap
Firstpost Logo

is on YouTube

Subscribe Now

Copyright @ 2024. Firstpost - All Rights Reserved

About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Terms Of Use
Home Video Shorts Live TV