New Delhi: Congress chief Sam Pitroda has as soon as once more discovered himself embroiled in an issue, offering fodder for the ruling BJP in the course of the ongoing Lok Sabha election. The most recent row will be traced again to Pitroda’s advocacy for an “inheritance tax” just like the one in america, sparking debates on wealth redistribution insurance policies.
Whereas each Pitroda and the Congress celebration have burdened that his remarks signify his “private opinion”, the controversy reveals no indicators of abating anytime quickly.
Clarifying his remarks on the “inheritance tax”, Pitroda posted on X, “I discussed US inheritance tax within the US solely for instance in my regular dialog on TV. Can I not point out info? I stated these are the type of points individuals should focus on and debate. This has nothing to do with coverage of any celebration together with Congress.”
I discussed US inheritance tax within the US solely for instance in my regular dialog on TV. Can I not point out info ? I stated these are the type of points individuals should focus on and debate. This has nothing to do with coverage of any celebration together with congress.
— Sam Pitroda (@sampitroda) April 24, 2024
“It’s unlucky that what I stated as a person on inheritance tax within the US is twisted by Godi media to divert consideration from what lies PM is spreading about Congress manifesto. PM’s feedback Mangal Sutra & gold snatching is just unreal,” he stated.
Who Is Sam Pitroda?
Sam Pitroda at present heads the Indian Abroad Congress, a department devoted to participating “Abroad Indians and Associates of India”. Pitroda boasts a historical past of collaboration with three former Prime Ministers of India, all from the Congress, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, and Manmohan Singh.
He additionally served because the chairman of the Nationwide Information Fee throughout Singh’s tenure from 2005 to 2009, a authorities physique centered on policymaking.
READ | Sam Pitroda Defends Stance On Inheritance Tax, Says ‘Comment Not Associated To Congress Coverage’
Throughout Rajiv Gandhi’s management, Pitroda spearheaded varied expertise missions spanning telecommunications, water administration, literacy enhancement, immunisation drives, dairy manufacturing, and oilseed cultivation.
The Previous Situations When Pitroda Courted Controversy
This isn’t the primary time that Pitroda’s statements have landed the Congress in sizzling water, drawing criticism from each inside and outdoors the celebration.
In Might 2019, he stoked controversy by responding with a “so what” when questioned about Rajiv Gandhi’s alleged involvement within the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
Launching a scathing assault on the BJP-led authorities on the Centre, Pitroda had stated, “Ab kya hai ’84 ka? Aapne kya kiya 5 saal mein, uski baat kariye. ’84 mein hua to hua. You have been voted to create jobs. You have been voted to create 200 sensible cities. Aapne wo bhi nahi kiya. Aapne kuch nahi kiya isliye aap yahan wahan gup lagate hain. (What’s it about 1984 riots now? Let’s speak about what you probably did within the final 5 years. What occurred in 1984 has occurred. So what? You have been voted to generate jobs. You have been voted to create 200 sensible cities. You didn’t do this. You probably did nothing).”
In February 2019, Pitroda raised doubts concerning the Balakot air strikes carried out by the Indian Air Drive following the Pulwama assaults, advocating as an alternative for dialogue with Pakistan. He confronted backlash for suggesting that blaming all residents of Pakistan for the actions of some was unjust.
“I don’t know a lot about assaults. It occurs on a regular basis. It occurred in Mumbai too. We might have reacted and simply despatched our rescue planes, however that isn’t the precise strategy. Based on me, that’s not the way you take care of the world,” Pitroda stated.
In June 2023, Pitroda triggered backlash by stating that temples wouldn’t handle India’s urgent points resembling unemployment, inflation, schooling, and healthcare. His remarks have been seen as dismissive of spiritual sentiments, sparking additional debate.
“Everybody talks about Ram, Hanuman, and Mandir. I’ve stated that temples are usually not going to create jobs,” he stated.
In January 2024, Pitroda’s assertion that Jawaharlal Nehru contributed extra to the drafting of the Structure than BR Ambedkar as soon as once more drew the BJP’s ire, with the saffron celebration branding the Congress as “anti-Dalit.”
Pitroda’s departure from the celebration line in April 2019, when he advised that the center class needs to be keen to pay increased taxes to help the Congress’s proposed NYAY scheme, additionally stirred controversy.
“The center class shouldn’t be egocentric and have an enormous coronary heart,” Pitroda stated.
His remarks, made throughout a tv interview, drew responses from senior celebration figures, underscoring the continuing pressure surrounding his statements.