Sam Pitroda's comments, 'voter turnout' funding make clear agenda of harming India: BJP

BJP leader Sudhanshu Trivedi.

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday cited Indian Overseas Congress leader Sam Pitroda's reported comments negating Chinese threat to India to target the opposition party, claiming that his remarks are in line with its leaders' statements in support of China.

Addressing a presser, BJP national spokesperson and MP Sudhanshu Trivedi sought to draw a link between US-based Pitroda's remarks, US-based groups funding for "voter turnout" in India and the ruling party's charges against Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi for his alleged links to Pakistan.

“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. 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,” Pitroda told news agency IANS in an interview.

"All these things make clear the agenda of harming India. The 'mohabbat ki dukan' of the Congress is for anti-national forces be it George Soros or China," said Trivedi.

The opposition party has nothing but a hateful agenda for India by pitting people against each other in the name of region, caste and language, he alleged.

The Congress leader, whose comments have been a frequent fodder for the BJP's attacks on the opposition party, is reported to have said that he does not understand the threat India faces from China, claiming that it is often blown out of proportion.

Trivedi claimed that Pitroda's comments should not be seen in isolation as he recalled Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's positive words in the past for China's growth story and the manner in which it tackled issues like unemployment.

What Pitroda has said is a severe blow to India's prestige, diplomacy and sovereignty, he said, accusing the veteran Congress functionary of speaking as if it is India which is the aggressor in the conflict with China.

Another BJP spokesperson Tuhin Sinha said, "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." Pitroda's comments, Trivedi said, are an insult to Indian military and the sacrifices made by its personnel, invoking the Galwan clash in which 20 Indian Army personnel laid down their lives while an unspecified number of Chinese soldiers died too.

He said India wants good relations with every country, adding it will be, however, done by maintaining its prestige and security. The BJP spokesperson also took up the issue of funding from the US-based ground into India for "voter turnout" and the ruling party's allegation against Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi for links to Pakistan to hit out at the opposition party.

The saffron party  has often accused Soros of funding and organising programmes against the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and has claimed of his links with the Congress.