New Delhi: The Congress was left red-faced on Thursday, after Sheila Dikshit, party’s Delhi unit chief asserted that the former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was not as tough and determined in tackling terrorism as PM Narendra Modi is. However, she maintained that the actions taken by PM Modi are just for the sake of elections. Also Read - Reassess COVID Situation, Focus on Micro Containment Zones: PM Modi to CMs of 7 Worst-hit States

On being asked by a leading news channel about Congress-led UPA government’s stand after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, that left more than 150 people dead, Dikshit, a former Delhi CM said,“It has to be agreed that Manmohan Singh was not as strong in dealing with terrorism as the current prime minister is.” Also Read - Shaheen Bagh's 82-Year-Old Bilkis Named in Time Magazine's List of 100 Most Influential People

However, later, Dikshit clarified that her statement was taken out of context. “If something is taken out of context, I can’t say,” she told reporters. Also Read - PM Modi to Hold High-level Meeting With CMs of 7 States/UTs Today | What to Expect

“I have seen some media is twisting my comments made in an interview. Here is what I said – it may seem to some people that Mr Modi is stronger on terror but I think this is a poll gimmick more than anything else. I also added that national security has always been a concern and Indira ji has been a strong leader,” Dikshit tweeted.

A week ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had claimed that the previous Congress-led UPA government had done injustice to the armed forces by failing to act against terrorism after the ghastly 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

Addressing a public gathering in Hindon, Ghaziabad, the Prime Minister had claimed that there are reports that Indian Air Force (IAF) had asked the then Manmohan Singh-led UPA government to give them a free hand to avenge the carnage (Mumbai attacks) but they were not allowed to do so.

”After 2016’s Uri attack, we (India) gave a befitting reply to Pakistan. But the Congress leadership was sleeping after 2008 Mumbai attacks. Do you want governments to keep sleeping? Chowkidaar should not sleep.”

In one of the most horrific terrorist attacks in the country’s history, 166 people were killed and over 300 injured as 10 heavily-armed terrorists from Pakistan created mayhem in Mumbai on November 26, 2008.