Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Friday credited the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government for laying the groundwork that eventually led to the extradition of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack accused Tahawwur Rana from the United States to India.

Addressing reporters, Sibal highlighted the formation and early action of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), established under the UPA regime in response to the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

Sibal, a former Union minister, emphasized that the NIA was set up by the UPA just a month after the devastating attacks that left 166 people dead. “I remember the NIA was established during UPA times. It registered a case in this incident on November 11, 2009, where the accused were David Headley and Tahawwur Rana,” he stated.

He noted that the NIA had expressed dissatisfaction at the time when US authorities failed to include certain charges against Rana. Despite initial setbacks, Indian agencies pursued the investigation diligently, eventually leading to a breakthrough in the form of Rana’s extradition.

Tahawwur Rana, a 64-year-old Pakistani-Canadian national, was formally arrested on Thursday evening after being extradited from the US. The move follows a protracted legal battle during which Rana sought to block his extradition through multiple appeals, all of which were ultimately rejected.

Upon his arrival, the NIA produced Rana before a special court and was granted 18-day custody for interrogation. The agency is expected to take him to various locations as part of a broader effort to reconstruct the conspiracy behind the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

Sibal also spoke about the critical link between Rana and co-accused David Headley. “Through mutual assistance, the NIA team reached America and examined Headley, who was under custody there. The conspiracy was uncovered as this happened,” he said.

He further added, “Today, the accused is before us, and things will become clearer. We know that only Tahawwur Rana and David Headley were not the conspirators, but more were involved.”

According to investigators, Rana was made aware of the attack plans by Headley prior to his visit to India. Their email exchanges have been cited as vital evidence in the ongoing probe. Officials believe that the conspiracy may extend beyond Mumbai, possibly involving planned attacks in other Indian cities.

While appreciating the current government’s efforts in successfully securing Rana’s extradition, Sibal made it a point to recognize the foundation laid by the previous Congress-led government. “I congratulate the UPA government for their efforts and also our government for their efforts, which have been successful. We have Tahawwur Rana in India today,” he concluded.

Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Friday, launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the government’s ‘Employment Linked Incentive’ (ELI) scheme. Accusing Modi of crafting catchy slogans while neglecting the youth’s job prospects, Gandhi questioned whether the much-touted initiative was merely “another jumla” (empty promise).

Gandhi pointed out that following the 2024 general election, Modi had unveiled the ELI scheme with great pomp, promising to deliver employment opportunities to India’s youth. “Nearly a year has passed since its announcement, yet the government hasn’t even defined the scheme and has reportedly returned the ₹10,000 crore allocated for it,” he claimed, highlighting what he described as a lack of seriousness about tackling unemployment. The government has not yet responded to these allegations.

Criticizing the Modi administration’s approach, Gandhi argued that genuine job creation cannot rely solely on favoring large corporations, promoting cronies over fair competition, emphasizing assembly over production, or ignoring India’s homegrown skills. “The real path to generating crores of jobs lies in massive investments in MSMEs, fostering fair markets where competition thrives, boosting local production networks, and equipping our youth with the right skills,” he asserted.

Turning his critique directly to the Prime Minister, Gandhi asked, “Prime Minister ji, you launched ELI with grand showmanship—where has this ₹10,000 crore scheme vanished? Have you abandoned our unemployed youth along with your promises?” He pressed further, “While you churn out new slogans daily, our youth are still waiting for tangible opportunities. What is your concrete plan to create the crores of jobs India desperately needs, or is this just another jumla?”

Gandhi also took aim at Modi’s economic priorities, questioning when the Prime Minister would shift his focus from “enriching Adani and his billionaire friends” to ensuring equitable job access for young people from marginalized communities. “The youth deserve more than hollow announcements—they need action,” he emphasized

A sightseeing helicopter tour over New York City ended in tragedy on Thursday afternoon when the aircraft crashed into the Hudson River, claiming the lives of all six people on board. Among the victims were Agustín Escobar, president of Siemens Spain, his wife Merce Camprubi Montal, and their three children, who were visiting the city from Spain.

The Bell 206L-4 helicopter, operated by New York Helicopter Tour, lifted off from the Wall Street Heliport at approximately 3:00 p.m. The tour included a flight past the Statue of Liberty before heading north along the Hudson River towards the George Washington Bridge. By 3:15 p.m., the aircraft had plunged into the water near Pier 40, on the New Jersey side of the river.

Eyewitnesses described the horrific moment. “It was going so fast and it just went straight into the water,” one person said. Another witness recalled hearing a loud snap before seeing the helicopter tilt sideways and crash, noting that no one was seen escaping the wreckage.

Pilot’s last warning: “Out of fuel”

In a haunting revelation, Michael Roth, CEO of New York Helicopter, confirmed that the pilot had radioed an urgent message minutes before the crash, reporting that he needed fuel and was attempting to land.

“He called in that he was landing and that he needed fuel… it should have taken him three minutes to arrive, but 20 minutes later, he didn’t arrive,” Roth told The Telegraph.

Roth described the devastating emotional toll on the company, stating, “Every employee in our company is devastated. My wife has not stopped crying. The death of the child of any human being is a monumental disaster.”

All six onboard confirmed dead

Emergency calls began flooding in around 3:17 p.m., and rescue teams arrived swiftly. Despite efforts, four of the victims were pronounced dead at the scene. The remaining two succumbed to their injuries at the hospital, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed.

Mayor Eric Adams offered condolences, stating, “Our hearts go out to the families of those who were onboard… sadly all six victims have been pronounced deceased.”

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation to determine the precise cause of the crash. Initial reports indicate the helicopter was flying erratically before impact, with video footage showing it sinking into the cold, 50-degree river as emergency responders scrambled to reach the scene.