Overview

• Pitroda told IANS that India should prioritize a neighbourhood-first policy and said he felt “at home” during visits to Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal.
• BJP leaders seized on the comments to accuse Congress of being soft on Pakistan, citing 26/11 and referencing the April Pahalgam killings and Operation Sindoor.
• Pitroda issued a same-day statement saying he meant shared history and people-to-people ties and that he was not downplaying terror or suffering.
• BJP spokespeople also invoked disputed claims linked to Yasin Malik and alleged backchannel contacts, using them to press for an apology from Congress.
• Strategists and commentators warned the row could hurt Congress heading into the Bihar elections, as reactions from BJP and allied groups continued into Saturday.