BJP on Friday launched a sharp attack on Congress, calling Sam Pitroda’s ‘felt at home in Pakistan’ remark anti-national and an insult to soldiers, in the wake of the Pahalgam attack
At a press conference, BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said that Pitroda’s remarks showed the Congress’s 'soft corner' for Pakistan.
"Can a patriot ever say that the terror state Pakistan is like a home to them? But, a close aide of Rahul Gandhi, who decides the Gandhi family's strategy, who has a 30-year-long relationship with the Gandhi family, says that he feels at home in Pakistan. Congress leadership is making Sam Pitroda say this. This is an insult to our soldiers and 140 crore Indians. If this statement is not anti-national, then what is it?" Bhandari asked.
He further said that terrorists like Hafiz Saeed and Yasin Malik had spoken of their links with the party.
"Terrorist Hafiz Saeed said publicly that he used to have 'Guftagoo' (talks) with Congress. Every Pakistani terrorist glorifies Rahul Gandhi and Congress. Their policy and intentions are not 'Desh-prem' but 'Pakistan-prem'. Terrorist Yasin Malik also said in an affidavit today that Congress wanted him to arrange a meeting with Hafiz Saeed, and the then PMO was involved in it. Gandhi family is drenched in Pak-Prem," Bhandari alleged.
He further asked why Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi had stayed silent when cricketer Shahid Afridi once called Rahul his “idol”.
He said, "We want to ask Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, why did you remain silent when Shahid Afridi called you his idol? Lashkar-e-Taiba wanted to have talks with Congress, but why did you remain silent? Sam Pitroda calls Pakistan his home, why are you silent? Your silence is your acceptance. They want to spread anarchy in Indian democracy."
The party further demanded that the Gandhi family apologise to the nation for Pitroda’s remark. "Yesterday, Rahul Gandhi said that protecting the Indian democracy is not his job, but he definitely said that he wants to fight against the Indian state. Gandhi-Vadra family should apologise to the nation for Sam Pitroda's statement."
Earlier in a post on X, he accused the previous UPA government of not taking 'tough action against Pakistan even after 26/11.' "Rahul Gandhi’s blue-eyed boy & Congress Overseas chief Sam Pitroda says he ‘felt at home’ in Pakistan. No wonder UPA took no tough action against Pak even after 26/11. Pakistan’s favourite, Congress’s chosen!" he wrote.
What Sam Pitroda said
Advocating for a neighbourhood-first policy, Pitroda said that he had been to Pakistan and "felt at home," given the "common gene pool" shared by the people.
"They are all small, they all need help, they are all going through difficult times, and there's no need to fight. Of course, there's a problem of terrorism. But at the end of the day, in that neighbourhood, there's a common gene pool," Pitroda told IANS.
"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. 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 priority," he added.
At a press conference, BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said that Pitroda’s remarks showed the Congress’s 'soft corner' for Pakistan.
"Can a patriot ever say that the terror state Pakistan is like a home to them? But, a close aide of Rahul Gandhi, who decides the Gandhi family's strategy, who has a 30-year-long relationship with the Gandhi family, says that he feels at home in Pakistan. Congress leadership is making Sam Pitroda say this. This is an insult to our soldiers and 140 crore Indians. If this statement is not anti-national, then what is it?" Bhandari asked.
He further said that terrorists like Hafiz Saeed and Yasin Malik had spoken of their links with the party.
"Terrorist Hafiz Saeed said publicly that he used to have 'Guftagoo' (talks) with Congress. Every Pakistani terrorist glorifies Rahul Gandhi and Congress. Their policy and intentions are not 'Desh-prem' but 'Pakistan-prem'. Terrorist Yasin Malik also said in an affidavit today that Congress wanted him to arrange a meeting with Hafiz Saeed, and the then PMO was involved in it. Gandhi family is drenched in Pak-Prem," Bhandari alleged.
#WATCH | Delhi | On Congress Overseas Chief Sam Pitroda's statement, BJP National Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari says, "When Congress was in power, terrorist Hafiz Saeed said publicly that he used to have 'Guftagoo' (talks) with Congress... Every Pakistani terrorist glorifies… pic.twitter.com/QPGerd59We
— ANI (@ANI) September 19, 2025
He further asked why Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi had stayed silent when cricketer Shahid Afridi once called Rahul his “idol”.
He said, "We want to ask Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, why did you remain silent when Shahid Afridi called you his idol? Lashkar-e-Taiba wanted to have talks with Congress, but why did you remain silent? Sam Pitroda calls Pakistan his home, why are you silent? Your silence is your acceptance. They want to spread anarchy in Indian democracy."
The party further demanded that the Gandhi family apologise to the nation for Pitroda’s remark. "Yesterday, Rahul Gandhi said that protecting the Indian democracy is not his job, but he definitely said that he wants to fight against the Indian state. Gandhi-Vadra family should apologise to the nation for Sam Pitroda's statement."
Earlier in a post on X, he accused the previous UPA government of not taking 'tough action against Pakistan even after 26/11.' "Rahul Gandhi’s blue-eyed boy & Congress Overseas chief Sam Pitroda says he ‘felt at home’ in Pakistan. No wonder UPA took no tough action against Pak even after 26/11. Pakistan’s favourite, Congress’s chosen!" he wrote.
What Sam Pitroda said
Advocating for a neighbourhood-first policy, Pitroda said that he had been to Pakistan and "felt at home," given the "common gene pool" shared by the people.
"They are all small, they all need help, they are all going through difficult times, and there's no need to fight. Of course, there's a problem of terrorism. But at the end of the day, in that neighbourhood, there's a common gene pool," Pitroda told IANS.
"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. 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 priority," he added.
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