(Photo: IANS)
New Delhi, Septtember19 (IANS) Rahul Gandhi’s close aide and Indian Overseas Congress (IOC) chief Sam Pitroda sparked a controversy on Friday, over finding ‘striking similarity’ between people of India and neighbouring nations including Pakistan and Bangladesh and also advocating for ‘neighbourhood diplomacy’ with trouble-torn nations including Nepal.
Pitroda, a Gandhi family loyalist, also called upon government to prioritize India's neighbourhood in its foreign policy.
Sam Pitroda in an exclusive conversation with IANS, said, “Our foreign policy, according to me, must first focus on our neighbourhood. Can we really substantially improve relationships with our neighbours? They are all small. They are going through difficult times.”
“Of course, there is the problem of violence, there is the problem of terrorism. But all that is there. At the end of the day, in the neighbourhood, there is a common gene pool. I’ve been to Pakistan, and I must tell you; I felt at home. I’ve been to Bangladesh, I’ve been to Nepal, and I feel at home. I don’t feel like I’m in a foreign country. They look like me, they talk like me. They like my songs, and they eat my food. I must learn to live with them in peace and harmony,” he further told IANS.
Sam Pitroda, who rose to prominence in the 1980s as a technocrat close to then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, has long been a trusted adviser to the Gandhi family. His latest remarks comes in strong contrast to his earlier controversial statement where he courted controversy with racist references while speaking about India's diversity and also drew parallels between South Indians and South Africans.
Pitroda's comments come at a time when Bangladesh is navigating political and economic turbulence, and Nepal faces internal instability.
Earlier in February, when India-China ties were frosty, he sparked another storm and stated that India exaggerates the threat from China.
That time also, in conversation with IANS, he called upon Indian government to stop treating Beijing as an enemy and rather adopt collaborative approach.
"I don't understand the threat from China. I think this issue is often blown out of proportion because the US has a tendency to define an enemy. I believe the time has come for all nations to collaborate, not confront. Our approach has been confrontational from the very beginning. We need to change this mindset and stop assuming that China is the enemy from day one," Pitroda said.
Sam Pitroda’s ‘home-like feeling in Pakistan’ draws sharp retort from BJP
Indian Overseas Congress (IOC) chief Satyanarayan Pitroda's (popularly known as Sam Pitroda) ‘home-like feeling’ and praise for Pakistan drew strong reactions from the BJP as it slammed his and the Congress party’s alleged ‘undying love’ for the terror-sponsoring nation.
A couple of BJP spokespersons took umbrage at Pitroda's remarks and termed it a 'grave insult to our Armed Forces as well as the 140 crore Indians'.
Pitroda, a Gandhi family loyalist, speaking exclusively to IANS said, “I've been to Pakistan, and I must tell you, I felt at home. I've been to Bangladesh, I've been to Nepal, and I feel at home. I don't feel like I'm in a foreign country."
Pradeep Bhandari, in a press conference lambasted Pitroda, stating “Gandhi family loyalist says that terror nation Pakistan feels like a home to him. This is grave insult to our soldiers and 140 crore Indians."
"He is not alone in this, the Congress top leadership including Rahul and Sonia Gandhi, are in agreement with it,” he claimed.
“If such behaviour is not anti-national, then what it is?” he asked.
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala slammed Pitroda and Congress leadership for giving a clean chit to Pakistan despite clinching evidence of its involvement in the 26/11 attacks, Pulwama and Pahalgam terror attack.
“They articulate Pakistan's position on 370 & Sindoor and Surgical Strike & undermine our forces! They give 80% water to Pak under IWT! They love Pakistan! Sam Pitroda who stays in US, away from India finds a home in Pakistan! Is anyone surprised?,” he said in a jeering tone.
Pradeep Bhandari also dug out old instances of alleged bonhomie between Pakistan and Congress leaders and accused the latter of belittling and demeaning own security forces.
“Sometime ago, Shahid Afridi said that he considers Rahul Gandhi his friend. Days later, his close aid is describing terror state as his ‘second home’,” he said.
Bhandari also reminded the Congress party of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and how the then government didn’t hold Pakistan accountable for this, rather gave it a clean chit.
Further calling out the Congress party’s ‘love’ for Pakistan, the BJP spokesperson claimed, “The whole Gandhi family is deeply in love with Pakistan and has no qualms in habitually undermining our forces with slurs like road ruffians.”
He stated that it’s because of this reason that instead of glorifying forces, they went to question the efficacy of 'Operation Sindoor' and demanded answers on how many jets were downed.
