Pitroda said 'China is not an enemy'
New Delhi: A political row was triggered between the BJP and the Congress over Mr Sam Pitroda's comment that “China is not an enemy” and over US funding of the “voter-turnout” project in India. Using Mr Pitroda's remarks as yet another stick to wield against the Congress and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, BJP leader and MP Sudhanshu Trivedi accused the Congress of having a “nexus” with China. He claimed that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had also indulged in such “anti-national” statements. On the other hand, the Congress, while distancing itself from Mr Pitroda’s comments, rubbished the allegations and hit back over the BJP’s accusations of taking money from the US for the “voter turnout” project.
On a question whether US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be able to control the threat from China, Mr Pitroda, head of the Indian Overseas Congress, said that India should stop assuming that China was an enemy.
“I don’t understand the threat from China. I think this issue is often blown out of proportion because the US has a tendency to define an enemy. I believe the time has come for all nations to collaborate, not confront. Increase communication, collaborate, cooperate and co-create and not have this command and control mindset… 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. It's unfair, not just to China, but to everyone… China is growing. You got to respect that,” Mr Pitroda said.
The BJP lapped up Mr Pitroda’s reported comments and claimed that his remarks were in line with the Congress leaders’ statements in support of China.
Addressing a press conference, BJP’s Sudhanshu Trivedi claimed what Mr Pitroda has said symbolises the mindset of the Congress. “He has openly acknowledged the Congress agreement with China's ruling party,” the BJP leader said.
Responding to this, the BJP said that such a comment was a a blow to India’s prestige, given the fact that 20 Indian soldiers were killed in the Galwan Valley during a confrontation with China. Mr Trivedi said Mr Pitroda’s comments make India look like an aggressor.
The Congress Party made it clear that the views that were expressed by Mr Pitroda on China were “most definitely NOT the views” of the party. “China remains our foremost foreign policy, external security, as well as economic challenge. The INC has repeatedly raised questions on the Modi government’s approach to China, including the PM's public clean chit to it on June 19, 2020. Our most recent statement on China was on 28th January 2025. 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,” said Congress’ Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh.
The BJP also stepped up attacks on the Congress, accusing it for taking money from the US for the "voter turnout" project and alleged external interference in India's electoral process. However, former chief election commissioner S.Y. Quraishi responded to these charges, saying only one MoU was signed for training of staff, and money was not involved. Mr Quraishi was heading the poll panel when the agreement was signed.
“The report in a section of the media about an MoU by ECI in 2012 when I was CEC for funding of a certain million dollars by a US agency for raising voter turnout in India does not have an iota of fact. Yes, there was a MOU with IFES in 2012 when I was CEC like we had with many other agencies and Election Management Bodies to facilitate training for desirous countries at ECI ‘s training and resource centre, IIIDEM , which was very new at that stage . There was no financing or even promise of finance involved in the MoU, forget X or Y amount. The MoU in fact made it clear in black and white that there would be no financial and legal obligation of any kind on either side. This stipulation was made at two different places to leave no scope for any ambiguity. Any mention of any funds in connection with this MoU is completely false and malicious,” Mr Quraishi wrote on X.
Another Congress leader, Mr Pawan Khera, said that in 2012, when ECI allegedly got this funding from USAID, the ruling party was the Congress. “So, by his logic: Ruling party (Congress) was sabotaging its own electoral prospects by getting this so-called ‘external nterference’. And that the Opposition (BJP) won the 2014 elections because of Soros/USAID,” he said.
