On Monday, the Congress party sought to distance itself from remarks made by its overseas in-charge, Sam Pitroda, regarding China, emphasizing that his statements do not reflect the official position of the party. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh issued a clarification on X, stating unequivocally that Pitroda’s views on the China issue should not be interpreted as the stance of the Indian National Congress.
Pitroda, in a recent interview, expressed skepticism about the way India perceives the threat from China, suggesting that the danger is often overstated. He argued that it is the United States that tends to define enemies, implying that the concerns about China may be exaggerated. His remarks, however, quickly became a source of controversy, drawing backlash from various political quarters, especially the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Jairam Ramesh, while distancing the party from Pitroda’s statements, took the opportunity to criticize the Modi government’s handling of China-related issues. He reiterated that China continues to be India’s foremost challenge in the realms of foreign policy, national security, and economic stability. He also pointed out that the Congress has consistently questioned the Modi administration’s approach to China, particularly highlighting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s public statement on June 19, 2020, which, according to Congress, gave China an undeserved “clean chit.” Ramesh further underscored that the party’s most recent statement on China was made as recently as January 28, 2025, reinforcing its firm stance on the matter.
Pitroda’s remarks came in response to former US President Donald Trump’s recent offer to mediate the India-China tensions, which he made during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Washington last week. The Indian government, however, swiftly rejected Trump’s offer, asserting that bilateral issues between India and China must be handled independently without external intervention.
The BJP, seizing on Pitroda’s comments, launched a strong attack on the Congress, claiming that his words were a direct affront to India’s sovereignty, diplomatic position, and national security interests. BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Pandey accused the Congress party of aligning itself with such views, arguing that Pitroda’s remarks were reflective of a broader pattern within the party. He linked Pitroda’s statements to previous remarks made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, particularly recalling how Gandhi, during a foreign visit, had allegedly praised China’s ability to tackle unemployment despite economic challenges. Pandey, however, dismissed this claim as misleading, asserting that China’s employment rate stands at just 24 per cent, contradicting the positive picture painted by Gandhi.
The controversy over Pitroda’s remarks has further fueled the ongoing political debate on India’s approach to China, with the Congress attempting damage control while the BJP continues to use the issue to target the opposition.
