Sam Pitroda’s well-wishers from the media ask him to be quiet

Senior Congress leader Sam Pitroda has been making extremely bizarre and insensitive remarks about a range of issues during this election season. He is being largely seen as the Mani Shankar Aiyar of 2019. It all started with the highly insensitive remarks that Pitroda made just after the Balakot airstrikes. The senior Congress leader had stated, “Don’t know much about attacks. It happens all the time. Attack happened in Mumbai also, we could have then reacted and just sent our planes but that is not right approach. According to me that’s not how you deal with world.” He had added, “Eight people (26/11 terrorists) come and do something, you don’t jump on entire nation (Pakistan). Naive to assume that just because some people came here and attacked, every citizen of that nation is to be blamed. I don’t believe in that way.” PM Modi had come down heavily on the Congress leader seen as close to the Gandhi family for his utterly insensitive remarks.

Pitroda has continued making such insensitive remarks despite severe criticism directed at him and his party. Most recently, his casual and insensitive remarks about the 1984 anti-Sikh riots sparked massive controversy and have landed the Congress in trouble. While the mainstream media should have also been critical of Pitroda’s bizarre remarks, certain eminent journalists and self-acclaimed intellectuals seem more concerned about how Pitroda’s remarks could hurt the fortunes of the Congress in the ongoing polls and have also advised him to stay quiet for the time being.

Aman Sharma, a journalist at The Economic Times expressed anguish about Sam Pitroda’s remarks and said, “What is with Sam Pitroda’s love for speaking to camera? Even after repeated faux pas!” Sreenivasan Jain also echoed similar sentiments. Another journalist, Rohini Singh, appeared somewhat concerned about Pitroda’s outrageous comments. She said, “A Cong leader once said ‘media ek nasha hai’! Think Pitroda has gotten hooked to it.” Saba Naqvi, author and political commentator, also appeared anguished about why Pitroda was putting the Congress in a tight spot at this time. She said, “Sir respectfully, why do you have to give interviews at this time…” This shows that Naqvi was concerned why Pitroda was giving such awkward remarks in the middle of the election season. Another eminent personality, Nirupama Menon Rao, voiced similar concern about Pitroda’s remarks and said, “I strongly feel Mr. Pitroda should stay off air. His communication skills are not the best. I hope his Party takes note.” Rahul Kanwal, a well-known journalist, stated, “Someone in the Congress needs to tell Sam Pitroda to stay away from TV cameras till May 23. Each time he opens his mouth, he gives ammunition to Congress’ opponents. He’s a self goal machine. And he’s been at it relentlessly. Mercifully for Cong, Manishankar Aiyar has stayed shut.”

It is shocking how the mainstream media and the self-acclaimed intellectuals are more concerned about how Pitroda’s remarks could hurt Congress. There is not a trace of criticism in their reactions to the hateful and insensitive comments made by Pitroda. In fact, there is a genuine concern in the cabal towards the senior Congress leader, manifested by their sincere advice for the Congress functionary seen as close to the Gandhi family.