Don't understand the threat from China: Sam Pitroda's comment stirs row

Pitroda claimed that the threat from China is often blown out of proportion and that the US always has a 'tendency to define an enemy'.

Indian Overseas Congress chairman Sam Pitroda has stirred a row once again by saying in an interview that he does not understand the threat from China that India is facing. He claimed that the threat from China is often blown out of proportion and that the US always has a 'tendency define an enemy'.

"I don't understand the threat from China. I think this issue is often blown out of proportion because the US has a tendency to define an enemy. I believe the time has come for all nations to collaborate, not confront," Pitroda told news agency IANS.

His comment drew sharp reactions from the BJP camp who claimed that his remarks are in line with its leaders' statements in support of China.

Addressing a press conference, BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi claimed that what Pitroda has said symbolises the mindset of the Congress. He has openly acknowledged the Congress agreement with the China's ruling party, the BJP leader said.

Tuhin Sinha, a spokesperson for the saffron party, condemned Pitroda's comment in a social media post where he said, "Those who ceded away 40000 square km of our land to China, still see no threat from the Dragon.. no wonder Rahul Gandhi is in awe of China and was rooting for BRI one day before the IMEEC was announced .. the crux of Cong party’s obsessive fascination for China, lies hidden in the mysterious 2008 Cong-CCP MOU."

Notably, when Sonia and Rahul Gandhi went to attend the Beijing Olympics in 2008, Rahul and Xi Jinping (who was then the vice-president) signed a memorandum of understanding to set forth a mechanism that would help both parties consult each other on matters of bilateral, international, as well as regional developments.

Trivedi also took up the issue of funding from the US-based ground into India for "voter turnout" and the ruling party's allegation against Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi for links to Pakistan to hit out at the opposition party.

Asserting that there is no escape route for the Congress now, he said the opposition party must come out with a clarification.

He also played down the then chief election commissioner S Y Quraishi's rejection of the report that a US agency funding was used for raising voter turnout in India when he headed the poll body.

The clearance was given by the then Congress-led UPA government and so it is for the then ruling alliance which should come out with a clarification, he added.

(With PTI inputs)