‘Felt at home in Pakistan’: Why Sam Pitroda's comments are a headache for Congress ahead of Bihar elections

Indian Overseas Congress chief Sam Pitroda triggered a meltdown on Friday with another controversial take on foreign policy, stating, “he felt at home in Pakistan”. Pitroda, who has landed Congress in a soup multiple times with his controversial and incautious statements, was calling on the Centre to “first focus on our neighbourhood” when he landed another gaffe.

In an interview with a news agency, Pitroda said: "Our foreign policy, according to me, must first focus on our neighbourhood. Can we really substantially improve relationships with our neighbours?... 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..."

As expected, the BJP pounced on the opportunity to lash out at Pitroda and the Congress. BJP Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said Congress had an “undying love” for Pakistan and “communicated with Hafiz Saeed through Yasin Malik”, in reference to the affidavit submitted by Malik in the Delhi High Court wherein he said former PM Manmohan Singh thanked him for getting in touch with Pakistani terrorist Hafiz Saeed as part of a backchannel peace process.

“Rahul Gandhi’s closest ally & leader, family friend Uncle Sam Pitroda (who said Hua to Hua for the 1984 Anti Sikh Genocide), who made racially disgusting comments on Indians - says he feels at home in Pakistan. Why is it surprising - Congress has an undying love for Pakistan. They even spoke to Hafiz Saeed via Yasin Malik!” Poonawalla wrote on X.

Pitroda’s untimely Pakistan remark, with the Bihar elections around the corner, has had many questioning why the Congress leader would make a statement that could steal Congress’s momentum ahead of the elections.

Political analyst Tehseen Poonawalla took to X to state how he expected Pitroda to “spoil the momentum of Congress”. “The other night on a Congress RJD Space: I predicted Sam Pitroda would speak about Pakistan & spoil the momentum of the opposition in the BIHAR elections. This liability keeps hurting the opposition, Congress  & millions of karyakartas! On a lighter note, Sam Pitroda toh jaaki hain, Mani Shankar abhi baki hain!”, his post read.

In February, Pitroda’s remarks that India “should stop assuming that China is an enemy” had landed Congress in offensive.

At that time, Congress had to issue a statement to control the damage. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh had to issue a statement, stating the views reportedly expressed by Pitroda on China “were most definitely NOT the views of the Indian National Congress.” He reiterated that China remained our foremost foreign policy, external security, as well as economic challenge.