NewDelhi: Writing for the Washington Post, a Congress stalwart, former close aide of the Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Sam Pitroda, took a controversial position of having illegal migrants settle in India and accusing the Indian government of “hounding” illegal immigrants. His comments, caught on video that spread widely, are made days ahead of the Delhi elections and amidst a heated debate about illegal immigration.
BJP Targeting the ‘Poor and Hungry’ Pitroda, who has been provocative in his commentaries, aimed at the Modi government, saying the management of global warming and other issues should take precedence over the “poor and hungry” immigrants. “They put so many efforts to arrive here. At a time when illegal immigration is bad, we are busy with illegal Bangladeshis and persecuting minorities,” Pitroda said.
“We should include everybody. It’s fine if we have to suffer a little bit. But, no one wants to share (resources). So, they want the pie to be bigger and bigger,” said Pitroda, also chairperson of the Indian Overseas Congress.
Delhi election debate dominated by illegal immigration issue The crackdown seems to have intensified with the Delhi Police cracking down on illegal Bangladeshi immigrants and the BJP pledging to make the capital illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya free if it wins the election. The BJP has also accused the AAP of providing ration and Aadhaar cards to Bangladeshi’ infiltrators’ to win votes, a charge the Delhi ruling party has denied.
The BJP quickly denounced Pitroda’s comments, dubbing them “shameful.” BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said, “The shocking statement of Rahul Gandhi’s close aide Sam Pitroda in favour of illegal immigrants to make themselves feel comfortable in India even sacrificing the country is very irresponsible”.
“Imagine how Congress, 70 years up to now, was working overtime to put the illegals in here in our country!” Bhandari added.
Pitroda, who is no stranger to controversy, had to step down from his post during the Lok Sabha elections in 2019 after a statement of his comparing Indians in the East to the Chinese and the South’sSouth to Africans faced backlash.
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