'Definitely not our views': Congress distances itself from Sam Pitroda's remarks on threat from China

New Delhi: Sam Pitroda has once again put the Congress in a spot by downplaying Chinese threat to India, prompting the grand old party on Monday to distance itself from the technocrat-politician, even as the ruling BJP went on attack mode, alleging that his remarks were in line with its leaders' statements in support of the neighbouring country.

While he was reinstated last June after he resigned as Indian  Overseas Congress Chairman following his controversial comments on India's diversity, the party had said party president Mallikarjun Kharge has reappointed him on the assurance that “he will not in future leave room for such controversies to arise”.

Earlier too, Congress has distanced itself from its Indian Overseas Congress Chairman, who had triggered controversies by using alleged racial remarks to depict India's diversity and making controversial statements on Balakot surgical strike, wealth tax and anti-Sikh riots.

In a video interview to a news agency, Pitroda said, "I don't understand the threat from China. I think this issue is often blown out of proportion because the United States has a tendency to define an enemy." He said he believes that the time has come for all nations to collaborate, not confront.

He also said the approach has been confrontational from the very beginning and this attitude creates enemies, which in turn garners support within the country while advocating the need to change the mindset and stop assuming that China is the enemy from day one. "It is unfair, not just to China, but to everyone," he said.

Congress General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh said in a statement on 'X', "the views reportedly expressed by Sam Pitroda on China are most definitely not the views of the Congress. China remains our foremost foreign policy, external security, as well as economic challenge."

He said the Congress has repeatedly raised questions on the Modi government's approach to China, including the Prime Minister's "public clean chit" to it on 19 June, 2020. Our most recent statement on China was on 28 January, 2025. It is also extremely regrettable that Parliament is being denied an opportunity to discuss the situation and express a collective resolve to meet these challenges effectively, he added.

Attacking the Congress, senior BJP MP and spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi alleged that Pitroda's remarks were in line with its leaders' statements on China. "What Pitroda has said symbolises the mindset of the Congress. He has openly acknowledged the Congress agreement with China's ruling party," he said adding, "it is a blow to India's prestige. It appears from his comments that India is the aggressor."

On June 26 last year, Pitroda was back as Indian Overseas Congress chairman on Wednesday, within 50 days of his resignation from the post after his effort to depict India's diversity invited accusations of making a racist statement.

While Pitroda was reinstated in his position, Ramesh had posted on 'X' "the Congress President has reappointed him on the assurance that he will not in future leave room for such controversies to arise." 

Pitroda, who is considered close to Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and organised his foreign tours, had resigned on May 8 last year after he compared north-east people with Chinese, south with Africans, west with Arabs and north Indians with white while trying to describe India's diversity. This statement came days after his remarks on 'inheritance tax' was used by the BJP to target Congress during the Lok Sabha elections.