New Delhi: Congress leader Sam Pitroda has once again found himself embroiled in a controversy, providing fodder for the ruling BJP during the ongoing Lok Sabha election. The latest row can be traced back to Pitroda’s advocacy for an “inheritance tax” similar to the one in the United States, sparking debates on wealth redistribution policies.
While both Pitroda and the Congress party have stressed that his remarks represent his “personal opinion”, the controversy shows no signs of abating anytime soon.
Clarifying his remarks on the “inheritance tax”, Pitroda posted on X, “I mentioned US inheritance tax in the US only as an example in my normal conversation on TV. Can I not mention facts? I said these are the kind of issues people will have to discuss and debate. This has nothing to do with policy of any party including Congress.”
I mentioned US inheritance tax in the US only as an example in my normal conversation on TV. Can I not mention facts ? I said these are the kind of issues people will have to discuss and debate. This has nothing to do with policy of any party including congress.
— Sam Pitroda (@sampitroda) April 24, 2024
“It is unfortunate that what I said as an individual on inheritance tax in the US is twisted by Godi media to divert attention from what lies PM is spreading about Congress manifesto. PM’s comments Mangal Sutra & gold snatching is simply unreal,” he said.
Who Is Sam Pitroda?
Sam Pitroda currently heads the Indian Overseas Congress, a branch dedicated to engaging “Overseas Indians and Friends of India”. Pitroda boasts a history of collaboration with three former Prime Ministers of India, all from the Congress, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, and Manmohan Singh.
He also served as the chairman of the National Knowledge Commission during Singh’s tenure from 2005 to 2009, a government body focused on policymaking.
READ | Sam Pitroda Defends Stance On Inheritance Tax, Says ‘Remark Not Related To Congress Policy’
During Rajiv Gandhi’s leadership, Pitroda spearheaded various technology missions spanning telecommunications, water management, literacy enhancement, immunisation drives, dairy production, and oilseed cultivation.
The Past Instances When Pitroda Courted Controversy
This is not the first time that Pitroda’s statements have landed the Congress in hot water, drawing criticism from both within and outside the party.
In May 2019, he stoked controversy by responding with a “so what” when questioned about Rajiv Gandhi’s alleged involvement in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
Launching a scathing attack on the BJP-led government at the Centre, Pitroda had said, “Ab kya hai ’84 ka? Aapne kya kiya 5 saal mein, uski baat kariye. ’84 mein hua to hua. You were voted to create jobs. You were voted to create 200 smart cities. Aapne wo bhi nahi kiya. Aapne kuch nahi kiya isliye aap yahan wahan gup lagate hain. (What is it about 1984 riots now? Let’s talk about what you did in the last five years. What happened in 1984 has happened. So what? You were voted to generate jobs. You were voted to create 200 smart cities. You did not do that. You did nothing).”
In February 2019, Pitroda raised doubts about the Balakot air strikes conducted by the Indian Air Force following the Pulwama attacks, advocating instead for dialogue with Pakistan. He faced backlash for suggesting that blaming all citizens of Pakistan for the actions of a few was unjust.
“I don’t know much about attacks. It happens all the time. It happened in Mumbai too. We could have reacted and just sent our rescue planes, but that is not the right approach. According to me, that’s not how you deal with the world,” Pitroda said.
In June 2023, Pitroda triggered backlash by stating that temples would not address India’s pressing issues such as unemployment, inflation, education, and healthcare. His remarks were seen as dismissive of religious sentiments, sparking further debate.
“Everyone talks about Ram, Hanuman, and Mandir. I have said that temples are not going to create jobs,” he said.
In January 2024, Pitroda’s assertion that Jawaharlal Nehru contributed more to the drafting of the Constitution than BR Ambedkar once again drew the BJP’s ire, with the saffron party branding the Congress as “anti-Dalit.”
Pitroda’s departure from the party line in April 2019, when he suggested that the middle class should be willing to pay higher taxes to support the Congress’s proposed NYAY scheme, also stirred controversy.
“The middle class should not be selfish and have a big heart,” Pitroda said.
His remarks, made during a television interview, drew responses from senior party figures, underscoring the ongoing tension surrounding his statements.
