By The Sampadak Express
In the wake of significant backlash from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Congress Party has distanced itself from senior leader Sam Pitroda’s controversial remark that “China is not our enemy.” The comment, made in a recent interview, has triggered a fresh political controversy, with BJP leaders accusing Pitroda of undermining India’s security and sovereignty.
Jairam Ramesh, the Congress’s communications in-charge, swiftly addressed the issue in a post on social media platform X, clarifying that Pitroda’s views do not reflect the party’s official stance. Ramesh stated, “The views reported by Shri Sam Pitroda on China are certainly not the views of the Indian National Congress. China remains our biggest foreign policy, external security, and economic challenge.” His comments were aimed at reasserting the party’s firm position on India’s stance toward China.
Pitroda, a prominent Congress leader and a close aide of party leader Rahul Gandhi, had sparked controversy with his statement during a recent interview with IANS. He suggested that India needed to change its mindset towards China and that New Delhi should not automatically regard China as an enemy. “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 said in the interview.
This remark has caused significant political fallout, particularly given the tense relationship between India and China over territorial disputes, most notably in the Ladakh region. Pitroda’s comments were seen as controversial at a time when India has been asserting its position in the ongoing border standoff with China. His statement also seemed to run counter to the position taken by Rahul Gandhi, who has repeatedly criticized the government for mishandling the border situation, even alleging that India had lost territory to China, a claim that the government has strongly denied.
Pitroda’s controversial remarks are not the first time he has landed himself and his party in hot water. Last year, his comments on India’s diversity, which were widely interpreted as racially insensitive, led to his temporary removal from his position as the Chairman of the Overseas Indian Congress. The comments sparked allegations of a colonial mindset and racism. Pitroda was reinstated after providing context for his remarks and accusing the BJP of misinterpreting them maliciously. At the time, Jairam Ramesh had expressed confidence that Pitroda would avoid further controversies, a sentiment that Pitroda later contradicted, claiming it was Ramesh’s personal opinion.
The latest remarks from Pitroda have stirred up a fresh wave of criticism from the BJP. Party spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari was quick to point out that Pitroda, who is considered a close ally of Rahul Gandhi, had downplayed the threat posed by China. Bhandari accused the Congress of prioritizing China’s interests over India’s. “Rahul Gandhi’s right-hand man Sam Pitroda: ‘China isn’t our enemy’! This man sings endless praises of China while Congress party’s signing of MoU in 2008 reveals a cozy betrayal of India’s interests and prioritizing China’s! It’s crazy how Congress always manages to keep China and Pakistan’s interests above ours,” Bhandari remarked.
The BJP also condemned Pitroda’s statement as a blow to India’s identity, diplomacy, and sovereignty, further fueling the ongoing political battle between the two major parties. The BJP’s criticism has added to the already intense atmosphere surrounding the issue of national security, with many accusing the Congress of softening its stance toward China.
In contrast, Congress leaders, including Ramesh, have reiterated that the party remains firm in its commitment to protecting India’s territorial integrity and security. They argue that while dialogue and diplomacy are important, India must remain vigilant and assertive in the face of any external threats.
As the political debate intensifies, it remains to be seen how this controversy will impact the Congress Party’s image, especially given the party’s ongoing internal and external challenges.
