Sam Pitroda, advisor to Rahul Gandhi, seems to have no connect with India of the present-day filled with nationalistic favour. Mr. Pitroda who heads Indian Overseas Congress and has been the organizer of Rahul Gandhi’s foreign engagements should have remained so, stuck to foreign soil. Why playing spoilt sport here? On the eve of elections, his liberal ideas are a bane to his party. His liberal views on empathy towards an enemy country and extraterritorial loyalties are rejected by the people in all countries all over the world. Indian media never shows how Liberals are mocked, jeered at and thrashed throughout the world.
Pitroda’s talk, specially his statement: ‘one cannot jump on an entire nation (Pakistan) just because some eight people came here and attacked’, is a senseless one. He should have confined himself to his Tec-world. Why these stupid statements to enrage people of India? By the way, the airstrikes were not done on civilians or military of Pakistan. The government stated in no uncertain terms that they were aimed at terror camps in Balakot. Why Mr. Pitroda has so much sympathy on Pakistan and its sponsored terrorists, is understandable. Is it one of the traits of Liberalism? This liberal outreach is unwarranted.
Pitroda may have his opinions. Just because he was close to Rajiv Gandhi or is close to Rahul Gandhi now, he cannot air his views whimsically in public and be adamant on it. If he be bashed for his comments, he should not lament that his freedom of speech is under attack. Now the days of intellectualism and superiority by virtue of birth, education and position are gone. Because social media is offering a level-playing field for all. So, responsible statements should be made. In doing so, time and place play a vital role. India is not America. It’s second largest populated country after China in the world. All are entitled for freedom of speech on any chosen subject, barring the security of the country (ie only with some restrictions). Always some trust and belief should be there on the ruling. Even the Congress party, he represents, had not actively promoted freedom of expression. It was in fact, Nehru and Ambedkar, aided by Patel passed an amendment restricting free speech.
The Congress says now that it’s his (Pitroda’s) personal opinion. Through him, in fact, the Congress tried to test the temperatures of water. The party might have thought, if his statement gained momentum in intellectual circles, they could get political mileage. However, most of the learned class dissociated with what he said. None lapped it up. Ultimately the Congress was petrified by the reaction shown by the BJP and none other than prime minister Modi himself.
Mr. Pitroda’s other noteworthy statement that directly affects his party is: ‘(In comments on Pulwama attack)…attacks (terror attacks) happened all the time then referred to Mumbai terror strikes in 2008 when the Congress-led UPA was in office, saying then government could have used air power too but that should not have been the right approach’.
What bizarre way of talking! He was normalizing terror attacks as if they were not of any consequence. He, sitting in ivory towers, may not be affected. What about the poor innocent civilians died in Mumbai attack? Is it not the duty of the ruling government to protect all citizens? Already the Congress got a name for its compromising nature and for its inefficiency in containing terror. Apart from that this man’s added interpretations and glorifying his (the Congress government’s) inaction. Does he mean to say India is created or born to absorb all terror attacks? It should not be bothered about the dead? It shouldn’t try to bring terrorists to justice?
There are many leaders in the Congress including Sam Pitroda who put their foot in their mouth. The very leaders are liabilities of Rahul Gandhi. Pitroda is sending a signal to the country, if the Congress came to power, it would not mind terror attacks to take place and would not take steps to avenge and would absorb them all, come what may. If this be the message, the BJP needs no campaign to win. It will be a cake for the BJP. The Congress has set its self goal.
