Sam Pitroda Sparks Controversy: Advocates for Settling Illegal Migrants in India, BJP Reacts Strongly

Sam Pitroda, a close aide of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress, has stirred fresh controversy by advocating for illegal migrants to settle in India. He also criticized the central government for its handling of the issue, raising questions about its priorities.
Pitroda remarked, "If they want to come here, even illegally, let them come. We should include everybody. If we have to suffer a little, it’s okay. We should share, but nobody wants to share. Everyone wants their pie to be bigger and bigger."
BJP's Sharp Reaction
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swiftly reacted to Pitroda's remarks, calling them "shocking and irresponsible." BJP National Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari stated, "Rahul Gandhi’s close aide Sam Pitroda’s statement advocating for illegal migrants to settle in India, even at the country’s expense, is outrageous. It highlights how Congress, over the past 70 years, worked to settle illegal migrants in India."
Pitroda’s History of Controversial Statements
This is not the first time Pitroda has sparked political outrage. During the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, he made a controversial comment on India’s diversity, stating, "Northeast people look like Chinese, people in the West look like Arabs, people in the North look white, and people in the South look African."
Illegal Immigration and Political Debate
The issue of illegal Bangladeshi migrants has resurfaced as a focal point ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections on February 5. The BJP has accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of creating fake Aadhaar cards for illegal migrants and using them as a "vote bank" for political gains.
While criticizing the government’s actions against illegal migrants, Pitroda argued that the focus should be on more pressing global issues like climate change rather than migration crackdowns. However, the BJP has labeled his remarks as an "encouragement of infiltration."
Questions for Congress
The BJP has also questioned whether Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party align with Pitroda’s controversial stance. The remarks have intensified political debates, with the BJP portraying Congress as complicit in enabling illegal migration and undermining national interests.
Pitroda’s comments have not only reignited the political discourse around illegal immigration but also drawn attention to broader issues of resource distribution and national security, setting the stage for further political confrontations.