New Delhi: Indian Overseas Congress chief Sam Pitroda has stirred a storm with his latest remarks on foreign policy.
After a long break, Pitroda reappeared and said India should improve ties with its neighbours, including Pakistan. He argued that this should be the first priority of India’s diplomacy.
“I have been to Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal. I felt at home in all these countries. I did not feel like I was in a foreign land,” Pitroda said. He added that India must learn to live with its neighbours in peace and harmony.
However, his comments quickly drew sharp reactions from the BJP. Party spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari reminded him of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and called him “Pakistan’s favourite, Congress’s chosen.”
Meanwhile, BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla linked the remarks to Pitroda’s past “Hua to Hua” comment on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. He accused Congress of siding with Pakistan on issues like Pulwama, Article 370, and surgical strikes.
Therefore, the BJP claimed that Congress had always shown a “soft corner” for Pakistan. The controversy has once again raised questions about Pitroda’s statements and Congress’s stance on relations with Islamabad.
