'Been to Pakistan, felt at home': Sam Pitroda lands in fresh row; this time over his foreign policy advise

NEW DELHI: Indian Overseas Congress chief Sam Pitroda has sparked fresh new political debate with his foreign policy advise for the central government involving immediate neighbours. Advocating for a neighbourhood-first policy, Pitroda said that he had been to Pakistan and "felt at home," given the "common gene pool" shared by the people.

"They are all small, they all need help, they are all going through difficult times and there's no need to fight. Of course there's a problem of terrorism. But at the end of the day, in that neighbourhood, there's common gene pool," Pitroda told IANS.

"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. They look like me, they talk like me, they like my songs, they eat my food. So, I must learn to live with them in peace and harmony. That's my first priority," he added.

The Bharatiya Janata Party reacted to Pitroda's comments calling him accusing Congress of choosing someone who is "Pakistan's favourite."

Watch: Indian Overseas Congress chief Sam Pitroda says, "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… pic.twitter.com/DINq138mvW

— IANS (@ians_india) September 19, 2025

BJP's '26/11' charge at Congress

"BJP national spokesperson Sam Pitroda Pradeep Bhandari accused the previous UPA government of not 'tough action against Pak even after 26/11.' Rahul Gandhi’s blue-eyed boy & Congress Overseas chief Sam Pitroda says he ‘felt at home’ in Pakistan. No wonder UPA took no tough action against Pak even after 26/11. Pakistan’s favourite, Congress’s chosen!" he said.

Rahul Gandhi’s blue-eyed boy & Congress Overseas chief Sam Pitroda says he ‘felt at home’ in Pakistan.

No wonder UPA took no tough action against Pak even after 26/11.

Pakistan’s favourite, Congress’s chosen! pic.twitter.com/To5PEMbVQI

— Pradeep Bhandari(प्रदीप भंडारी)🇮🇳 (@pradip103) September 19, 2025

Sam Pitroda, a longtime Gandhi family aide and chairman of the Overseas Indian Congress, has often found himself at the centre of controversies. Earlier this year, he triggered a storm with his comments on China, forcing the Congress to distance itself publicly.

In June 2024, during the Lok Sabha campaign, Pitroda was forced to step down after his statements on inheritance tax and a remark comparing the physical features of Indians from different regions with those of Africans, Arabs, and Chinese drew flak. He was reinstated only after an assurance that there would be no repeat of such controversies.