New Delhi: Congress leader Sam Pitroda has backed party leader Rahul Gandhi's "democracy under attack" remarks made in the UK. He said that the former party president never asked any foreign country for help and was being subjected to a "well-orchestrated" personal attack based on "lies and misinformation".


Pitroda, who was present during Gandhi's interactions in the UK, mounted a strong defence of the comments made by the former Congress chief in a series of tweets.


"Please stop promoting and propagating lies about what Rahul Gandhi said in London. Were you there? Did you see the video? Do you really know what he said? In what context? What was the main message? "For clarification, please note that Rahul Gandhi basically said the following: 1. Indian Democracy is Global Public Good. 2. The state of democracy in India is of concern. 3. It is an Indian problem, and we will deal with it," Pitroda said.


Gandhi never asked any foreign country for help, he asserted. "I was there as an Indian professional with a logical, rational and open mind, eyes, and ears," said Pitroda, who is credited with leading the country's telecom revolution during Rajiv Gandhi's tenure as prime minister.






"What is the sense in launching a well-orchestrated and well-organised personal attack based on lies and misinformation through elected leaders in collaboration with the media? Is this what Indian democracy is all about? Is there some decency left in political discourse?" he asked.


Why are some people so agitated and have ganged up in promoting lies, and are attacking Gandhi all the time, Pitroda asked.


There are more important things to do in India, such as creating job opportunities, improving the economy, checking incidents of violence, improving the environment, education and health services, he said.


"Why is national TV media spending so much time, money and energy on this? Why are they always quick to jump on Rahul Gandhi without checking their own facts? What are they all trying to accomplish? Is this fair?" he asked.


"I am simply astonished. I would expect a little better sense and response from Indian media.... May I request that before responding to these tweets, please take a deep breath and think before saying anything? Be respectful, dignified, truthful, factual, responsible and a little generous. We need love and not hate," Pitroda said.


He stressed that "we need understanding and not misunderstanding".


"We must unite to take India forward for all the people -- especially the poor, hungry, homeless, unemployed and young," he added.


Hitting back at Pitroda, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla posted screenshots of a few news articles on Twitter and wrote: "Dear Uncle Sam, the entire media and nation has seen Rahul Gandhi's video and how he was asking for action from US, Europe into Indian affairs. Since you seem disconnected with realities and perhaps living in a 'hua to hua' world, here is also what Rahul Gandhi and his ilk have done in the past -- Rahul sought Nicholas Burn's intervention too, Mani Aiyar sought Pakistani intervention." "When it comes to undermining national sovereignty, Rahul is a serial offender," he alleged.






Gandhi in the UK alleged that the structures of Indian democracy are under attack and there is a "full-scale assault" on the country's institutions.


The Congress leader also told British parliamentarians in London that microphones are often "turned off" in the Lok Sabha when an opposition member raises important issues.


(With PTI inputs)