Congress Leader's 'China Not Our Enemy' Comment Triggers Massive Controversy

Veteran Congress leader Sam Pitroda, who heads the party's overseas unit, has sparked controversy by stating that the threat posed by China is often exaggerated. His suggestion that India should stop viewing its neighboring country as an enemy has led to strong criticism, with the ruling BJP accusing him of revealing an "agreement" between Congress and China. In response, the Congress party distanced itself from Pitroda's comments, clarifying that they do not reflect the party's stance.

Congress overseas incharge Sam Pitroda. (Photo: PTI)

Pitroda's remarks, known for stirring controversy, follow a statement by his leader Rahul Gandhi in Parliament, claiming that India had lost territory to China—a claim rejected by the government. In an interview with IANS, Pitroda argued that India's approach to China has been "confrontational" and that this mindset needs to change.

"I don't understand the threat from China. I think this issue is often blown out of proportion because the U.S. has a tendency to define an enemy. I believe the time has come for all nations to collaborate, not confront. Our approach has been confrontational from the very beginning, and this attitude creates enemies, which in turn garners support within the country. We need to change this mindset and stop assuming that China is the enemy from day one," he said in the interview.

The response addressed a question about whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump could manage the threats from China. Last month, India declined Trump's offer to mediate the resolution of border disputes with China.

'Fascination with China'

The BJP hit back at Mr. Pitroda, describing his remarks as a "severe blow to India's identity, diplomacy, and sovereignty." Sudhanshu Trivedi of the BJP argued that these comments were not isolated, noting that Rahul Gandhi had made similar statements in the past. He condemned the remarks, calling them an insult to Indian soldiers who lost their lives during the 2020 Galwan Valley clashes.

BJP national spokesperson Tuhin Sinha emphasized that the Congress's focus on China stems from a 2008 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Congress and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

"Those who ceded away 40,000 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 Congress party's obsessive fascination for China, lies hidden in the mysterious 2008 Cong-CCP MOU," said Mr Sinha.

The MoU highlighted by the BJP was referred to as a "secret deal" in a 2020 RTI response from the Ministry of External Affairs. It was an agreement between the Indian National Congress and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), signed on August 7, 2008, to facilitate the exchange of "high-level information and cooperation," according to the ministry's statement.

Pradeep Bhandari, another BJP spokesperson, emphasized that Mr. Pitroda is a close associate of Rahul Gandhi and accused the Congress of placing China's interests above India's.

"Rahul Gandhi's right-hand man Sam Pitroda: 'China isn't our enemy'! This man sings endless praises of China while Congress party's signing of MoU in 2008 reveal a cozy betrayal of India's interests and prioritising China's! It's crazy how Congress always manages to keep China and Pakistan's interests above ours," he said.

"Rahul Gandhi's remote control is in the hand of George Soros and China," Mr. Bhandari, reportedly a billionaire philanthropist, has been accused of attempting to influence global politics through his Open Society Foundation.

'China: Our Top Foreign Policy Priority'

The Congress stated that Mr. Pitroda's comments do not reflect the party's stance, as China remains a top priority in its foreign policy.

"China remains our foremost foreign policy, external security, as well as economic challenge. The INC has repeatedly raised questions on the Modi Govt's approach to China...It is also extremely regrettable that Parliament is being denied an opportunity to discuss the situation and express a collective resolve to meet these challenges effectively," stated Jairam Ramesh, the Congress's communications head.

China has remained a significant challenge for the US due to security concerns and trade implications. India, too, has been involved in a border dispute with China, which escalated into violent clashes in 2020. This was followed by a disengagement process and military-level negotiations between both nations.

In India, the opposition alleges that the country lost a portion of its territory to China during these clashes—a claim reiterated by Mr. Gandhi in his recent parliamentary speech. He stated that China controls 4,000 sq km of Indian land, a statement refuted by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

'Sam Pitroda: Notable Controversies'

Mr. Pitroda has been no stranger to controversy. In 2024, his remarks on India's diversity were widely criticized as racist, even drawing a backlash from Prime Minister Modi. Despite the criticism, he defended his statement, attributing the controversy to his choice of words. The Congress party distanced itself from his comments.

Amid the uproar, he resigned from his position as the Congress overseas chief but returned to the role after seven weeks.

During last year’s general elections, he stirred fresh debate with a comment on inheritance tax, which the BJP used to allege that Congress planned to redistribute Indians' wealth if elected to power.

(This Article was originally published by NDTV)