Overview

• Indian Overseas Congress chief Sam Pitroda urged a neighbourhood-first policy and said he felt “at home” in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal.
• He acknowledged terrorism and violence concerns in the region but pointed to a shared “common gene pool” and urged peace and harmony.
• The BJP condemned the comments, with spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari invoking the 26/11 attacks and calling Pitroda “Pakistan’s favourite.”
• Party figures including Shehzad Poonawalla broadened the attack by citing 26/11, Samjhauta, Pulwama and Pahalgam, referencing a Yasin Malik affidavit about contact with Hafiz Saeed, and labeling Congress the “Islamabad National Congress.”
• Commentators warned of potential political damage for Congress with Bihar elections approaching, noting Pitroda’s record of remarks that previously forced party damage control.