Why Is Congress Still Carrying Sam Pitroda on Its Shoulders?

Sam Pitroda’s name once stood for innovation and progress in India. A telecom visionary, he helped modernize India’s communication systems in the 1980s under then-Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. But today, Pitroda has become a symbol of controversy, embarrassment, and political baggage — and yet, the Congress Party still clings to him tightly. Why?

🧨 The Blunders That Shook India

Pitroda, who currently heads the Indian Overseas Congress, lives in the United States and frequently gives media interviews, often making remarks that anger and insult Indians. Let’s break down some of the most infamous blunders he’s made recently:

• During the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Pitroda made a shocking comment describing India’s diversity using crude racial stereotypes:
  He said people from East India look like Chinese, people from West India look like Arabs, people from North India look like Whites, and people from South India look like Africans.
  This comment triggered nationwide outrage, with people across political lines calling it racist, divisive, and completely detached from the realities of India’s proud multicultural identity.
• Earlier, when asked about sensitive issues like the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Pitroda once infamously brushed it off by saying, “So what happened?” This dismissive attitude over such a painful historical tragedy was widely condemned as insensitive and irresponsible.
• Pitroda has also been criticized for constantly commenting on Indian matters while sitting comfortably in the U.S., disconnected from the day-to-day struggles, cultural nuances, and local challenges Indians face. Many view him as an elitist figure who looks down on the common people he claims to represent.

🏛 Why Does Congress Still Hold Onto Him?

Given this track record, why hasn’t the Congress Party permanently cut ties with Pitroda?

The answer lies in old loyalties and historical weight.

• Pitroda was a key figure during Rajiv Gandhi’s modernization push and has maintained close personal ties with the Gandhi family, especially Rahul Gandhi.
• He is seen as an intellectual asset who brings international visibility and a global network to Congress, particularly among the Indian diaspora.
• Despite the damage he causes with his public statements, Congress seems unwilling to alienate a figure who has been loyal to the party for decades.

🤦 The Cost of Loyalty

But this loyalty comes at a cost.

• Every time Pitroda makes a public blunder, Congress finds itself on the defensive, wasting precious political energy clarifying, apologizing, and doing damage control.
• His comments reinforce the perception that Congress is out of touch with grassroots realities, still clinging to elite figures who no longer resonate with modern Indian voters.
• It raises the bigger question: Why does the Congress leadership feel it needs Pitroda so badly, even when he becomes a liability?

Many political observers believe it is Rahul Gandhi’s personal comfort with Pitroda and the lack of bold, fresh leadership within Congress that keeps figures like him firmly in place. But this risks alienating young voters and regional supporters who want relatable, responsible leadership — not someone sitting across the world, throwing careless words into India’s deeply sensitive political space.

🔍 Final Thought

The Congress Party must ask itself a hard question: Is it willing to carry the burden of old loyalists like Sam Pitroda, no matter how much damage they cause? Or is it time to break free from the shadows of the past and build a leadership team that truly reflects the voice, aspirations, and dignity of the Indian people?

If the party keeps shielding figures who insult and belittle Indians, it should not be surprised when voters turn away. After all, no one likes to be mocked — especially not by those who claim to stand for them.

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