The Prime Minister responded to warm remarks made by the Indian Overseas Congress chief regarding their personal relationship.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday extended Diwali and Gujarati New Year greetings to Sam Pitroda and his wife, Anjana Ben. The Prime Minister shared the message on X in response to a video of the Indian Overseas Congress chief speaking cordially about him.
According to Telegraph India, Pitroda, 84, described Modi as a "Gujarati friend" whom he respects as a person. Pitroda told news agency IANS that he and his wife have met the Prime Minister and found him to be warm, kind, loving and caring at a personal level.
Pitroda noted that while he may have issues with the Prime Minister's ideology or worldview, he has no personal issues with him. He added that he could disagree with Modi and still have dinner with him.
The exchange follows recent comments in a memoir by Sonia Gandhi, which stated there was "no real contact" with the Prime Minister. Pitroda has been associated with the Nehru-Gandhi family since the mid-1980s when Rajiv Gandhi appointed him head of the Telecom Commission.
In May 2024, the Congress party distanced itself from Pitroda and announced his resignation as chairman after the Prime Minister accused him of being a "racist". Pitroda was reinstated a few weeks later.
The Congress party had not issued an official reaction to Pitroda's remarks by Thursday evening, according to Telegraph India.
