A couple of BJP spokespersons took umbrage at Pitroda’s remarks and termed it a “grave insult to the country’s Armed Forces and to the countrymen.”
Photo: IANS
Rahul Gandhi’s close aide and Indian Overseas Congress (IOC) chief Sam Pitroda sparked a controversy on Friday by terming Pakistan “home”, with several BJP leaders calling it an “anti-India” approach of the Congress.
His observation of finding ‘striking similarity’ between people of India and neighbouring nations, including Pakistan and Bangladesh and advocacy for ‘neighbourhood diplomacy’, attracted sharp reaction from many ruling party leaders. The BJP slammed his alleged ‘undying love’ for the terror-sponsoring nation.
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A couple of BJP spokespersons took umbrage at Pitroda’s remarks and termed it a “grave insult to the country’s Armed Forces and to the countrymen.”
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“Can a patriot ever say that a terror state, Pakistan, is like a home to them? But, a close aide of Rahul Gandhi, who decides the Gandhi family’s strategy, who has a 30-year-long relationship with the Gandhi family, says that he feels at home in Pakistan,” said BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari while addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters in the national capital.
The Congress leadership, he said, is making Pitroda come out with such anti-India statements.
“On one hand, Rahul Gandhi says he is not here to protect democracy of India, tries to incite the youth, on the other, Congress leaders call Pakistan a home. This makes it amply clear that the Gandhi-Vadra family is in love with Pakistan,” he added.
It’s an insult to our soldiers and 140 crore Indians, Bhandari observed, asking if the statement is not anti-national, then what is it?
Bhandari also attacked Gandhi over Pakistan’s former cricketer Shahid Afridi, lauding the Congress MP, saying he was his idol.
Every Pakistani terrorist glorifies Rahul Gandhi and the Congress, saying the grand old party’s policy and intentions are not ‘desh-prem’ but ‘Pakistan-prem’, Bhandari said.
“During Congress’ rule, terrorist Hafiz Saeed publicly said that he used to have ‘Guftagoo’ (talks) with Congress,” Bhadari said, asking why he didn’t say anything on these developments.
“Terrorist Yasin Malik also said in an affidavit today that Congress wanted him to arrange a meeting with Hafiz Saeed and the then PMO was involved in it. Gandhi-Vadra family is drenched in ‘Pak-Prem’,” the BJP spokesperson charged.
“Anything against India is protected by the Congress,” he further charged, adding that the Congress-led government at the Centre did not respond against Pakistan after its terrorists attacked Mumbai in 2008.
“Narendra Modi government attacks back decisively,” he said while differentiating between the two governments.
“Gandhi family loyalists say that the terror nation Pakistan feels like a home to him. This is a grave insult to our soldiers and 140 crore Indians, he said.
“He is not alone in this, the Congress top leadership including Rahul and Sonia Gandhi, are in agreement with it,” the BJP leader claimed.
Another 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 attacks.
“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 the US, away from India finds a home in Pakistan! Is anyone surprised,” he said in a jeering tone.
Pitroda, a Gandhi family loyalist who also called upon the government to prioritize India’s neighbourhood in its foreign policy, in a media interview said, “I’ve been to Pakistan, and I must tell you; I felt at home.”
He also dismissed the ruling BJP’s narrative of India as “Vishwaguru”, calling it mere propaganda, and warned about rising global challenges to democracy.
He rose to prominence in the 1980s as a technocrat close to then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, and has long been a trusted adviser to the Gandhi family since then.
In February this year, when India-China ties were frosty, he sparked another storm and stated that India exaggerates the threat from China.
Earlier, while speaking about India’s diversity, he drew parallels between South Indians and South Africans, courting a controversy with racist references.
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