“Felt At Home In Pakistan”: BJP Attacks Congress After Pitroda's Comment

Sam Pitroda’s recent remark that he “felt at home in Pakistan” has drawn sharp criticism from the BJP, which accused the Congress of maintaining a “Pakistan-friendly stance,” reported The Indian Express.

The BJP claimed Pitroda’s comments received Rahul Gandhi’s “silent support” and argued that they suggested the Gandhi family’s “heart does not reside in India but in Pakistan.”

Sam Pitroda, the Indian Overseas Congress chief, clarified that he had intended to emphasise the “shared history and people-to-people bonds” between India and its neighbors, while also acknowledging the “pain, conflict, or the grave challenges faced due to terror and geopolitical tensions.”

In a recent interview, Pitroda said that India’s neighborhood should be a prime focus of foreign policy.

He noted that the neighboring countries are small, need support, and are going through difficult times, emphasising that there is no need to fight and that, “at the end of the day, in that neighbourhood, there is a common gene pool.”

Pitroda added that he felt at home in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan, explaining, “They look like me, they talk like me, they like my songs, they eat my food…so I must learn to live with them in peace and harmony; that's my first priority.”

BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari condemned the statement, asking how any patriot could claim “Pakistan feels like home” after the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor.

He said Pitroda’s words “reflect the thinking of the top leadership of the Congress party and insult our soldiers and 140 crore citizens,” calling the remarks “an insult to India’s sovereignty, integrity, and the valour of our brave soldiers.”

Pitroda responded, clarifying that he aimed to draw attention to “the realities we face” and that his comments were meant to foster “honest conversation, empathy, and a more grounded and responsible approach to how India sees itself and is seen by others.”

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