♍The BJP launched a sharp attack on the Indian National Congress on Monday, citing Indian Overseas Congress leader Sam Pitroda’s recent comments downplaying the threat posed by China.
In response, the Congress 𒁏distanced itself from Pitroda’s remarks, with AICC General Secretary Jairam Ramesh clarifying on social media that Pitroda’s views did not reflect the party’s stance. “The views reportedly expressed by Mr Sam Pitroda on China are most definitely NOT the views of the Indian National Congress,” Ramesh stated on X.
BJP national spokesperson and Member of Parliament 🐠Sudhanshu Trivedi on Monday accused Pitroda’s remarks of aligning with Congress leaders’ previous statements in support of China and of undermining India’s security interests.
♐At a press conference, Trivedi claimed that Pitroda’s statements, along with allegations of foreign funding for electoral activities in India, paint a disturbing picture of an opposition party with an agenda that harms India’s national interests. He referred to Pitroda's comments as part of a larger pattern of Congress leaders appearing to sympathise with anti-national forces, including China and billionaire investor George Soros.
🌠“Pitroda’s comments are a severe blow to India’s prestige, diplomacy, and sovereignty. It’s as if he is siding with China, which has shown aggression on our borders,” Trivedi stated. “The ‘mohabbat ki dukan’ (store of love) that Congress claims to promote seems to cater only to anti-national forces, whether it’s China or Soros.”
What did Pitroda say?
👍Pitroda, who has frequently drawn criticism from the BJP, reportedly stated that the Chinese threat to India is exaggerated and that he fails to understand the level of concern around it. In a recent interview, Pitroda emphasised that India’s mindset toward China needed to change.
“I think we need to change that pattern to assume that China is the enemy from day one. It is not just to China, but to everyone... I don’t know what is the threat from China. I think this issue is often blown out of proportion because the US has the habit of defining an enemy,” Pitroda had told news agency IANS.
This remark has added fuel to an already tense political debate, with the BJP ꦬdrawing a direct link to Congress’ broader history of statements regarding China. Pitroda’s comments came on the heels of a previous controversy last year, when his remarks on India’s diversity sparked accusations of racism and a colonial mindset, leading to his removal as Chairman of the Overseas Indian Congress for over a month.
🐷Pitroda was reinstated after explaining the context of his comments and claiming the BJP had misinterpreted them maliciously. Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh had supported Pitroda’s reinstatement, stating that he had given an assurance to avoid future controversies. However, Pitroda later contradicted this, calling Ramesh’s remarks a personal opinion.
﷽This time, the BJP’s critique of Pitroda is intensified by the fact that his comments directly contradict the stance of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Just months earlier, Gandhi had asserted in Parliament that India had lost a portion of its territory to China, a claim that was vehemently denied by the government. Pitroda’s statements, according to the BJP, undermine the party’s unified position on national security, particularly with regard to China.
Trivedi’s intensified attack on Congress over Pitroda’s remarks
𒈔Trivedi also linked Pitroda’s comments to past statements by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who has been criticised for his positive remarks about China’s economic progress and its approach to unemployment. Trivedi suggested that the Congress party's track record with China is problematic, citing these positions as further evidence of a pattern of pro-China sympathies within the opposition.
🌳BJP spokesperson Tuhin Sinha also took aim at the Congress, reminding the public of India’s territorial losses to China under previous Congress governments. "Those who ceded away 40,000 square kilometers of our land to China still see no threat from the Dragon," Sinha remarked, adding that Rahul Gandhi's admiration for China was indicative of the party’s stance.
♛The BJP further criticised Pitroda’s remarks for insulting the Indian military and the sacrifices made by soldiers, particularly referencing the deadly clash in Galwan Valley in 2020, in which 20 Indian soldiers lost their lives. “Pitroda’s words are an insult to the bravery and sacrifices of our soldiers,” Trivedi said.
🦂In addition to the China comments, Trivedi also brought up a separate issue involving alleged foreign funding for voter turnout efforts in India, implicating US-based groups. He claimed that the funding was linked to entities with ties to Soros, whom the BJP has accused of influencing Indian politics against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.
✤This accusation ties back to the controversy surrounding Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, who the BJP has linked to Pakistan through unspecified allegations. Trivedi demanded a clarification from the opposition party, stating, “The Congress has no ground left to defend itself on these issues.”
The BJP also sought to address the issue of foreign interference in India’s elections. Trivedi referred to statements from the Russian government alleging external influence in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. While he emphasised that the Election Commission ℱwould handle any irregularities, he called on opposition parties to answer the moral and political questions raised by these allegations.
