'India has created raw talent to serve others': Sam Pitroda stokes row again, BJP hits back at Congress

Sam Pitroda

• Sam Pitroda says India created raw talent serving others
• He criticized India for lacking its own operating system
• BJP slammed Pitroda, accusing him of bashing Bharat

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Not new to controversies, Indian Overseas Congress chief Sam Pitroda once again sparked a controversy after he claimed that India has created “raw" talent to serve others. While commenting about India’s technology ecosystem, he said that it is “a shame that a country with 1.5 billion people does not have its own operating system."

The comments drew sharp criticism from the BJP, which accused him of “bashing Bharat."

During an interview with a YouTube channel, the Pitroda said that New Delhi has created a large base of “raw" young talent but failed to leverage it for domestic innovation.

“We created a lot of young talent, but it is raw. It ultimately helped multinationals worldwide in their programming, banking, legal systems, industry, manufacturing, and logistics," he said.

He further said that India had not built global-scale technology products of its own and the talent has been used to serve others.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was quick to react, was quick to react, with party spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla launching a scathing attack on the Congress leader, saying that the chief advisor of ‘Lashkar E Congress’ once again “mocked Bharat with lies."

“So after the TOPLESS act by Congress now comes chief advisor of ‘Lashkar E Congress’ — Sam Pitroda. Once again on agenda of bashing Bharat. Uncle Sam mocks Bharat with lies. Says shame on India they haven’t developed even OS for mobiles," Poonawalla said in a post on X.

Last year, he came under fire after he urged the Centre to prioritise dialogue with neighbouring countries and said that India’s foreign policy should begin by strengthening ties in the region, including with Pakistan.

In an interview with IANS, Mr Pitroda said, “Our foreign policy, according to me, must first focus on our neighbourhood. Can we really substantially improve relationships with our neighbours?… I’ve been to Pakistan, and I must tell you, I felt at home. I’ve been to Bangladesh, I’ve been to Nepal, and I feel at home. I don’t feel like I’m in a foreign country…"