Sam Pitroda’s Remarks On Illegal Bangladeshi Immigrants Spark Row Ahead Of Delhi Polls, BJP Attacks Congress

Congress leader Sam Pitroda's remarks advocating for illegal immigrants to settle in India have sparked a fresh row. He slammed the govt's focus on targeting immigrants.

File Photo of Indian Overseas Congress chief Sam Pitroda

Source : Getty

Congress veteran and close aide of Rahul Gandhi, Sam Pitroda, has ignited yet another controversy by advocating for illegal migrants to settle in India while criticising the government for "hounding" them. His remarks, made in a video that has since gone viral, come just days ahead of the February 5 Delhi Assembly elections, where illegal immigration has been a key issue.  

In a veiled attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Pitroda, who has courted controversy in the past, suggested that the government should focus on global issues like climate change instead of targeting immigrants.  

"Instead of caring for global warming, we go after immigration, these people are poor and hungry. They do so much work to come here. Even though illegal immigration is wrong, we are busy targeting illegal Bangladeshis and minorities," Pitroda can be heard saying in the viral video.  

The Indian Overseas Congress chief further stated, "As opposed to saying we will include everybody. If we have to suffer a little bit, it's okay. We will suffer a lit bit, we will share. But, nobody wants to share (resources). They want to keep their pie bigger and bigger."  

🚨On Illegal Bangladeshis Entering India, Senior Congress Leader Sam Pitroda Says:

'If they want to come here, even illegally, let them come. We should include everybody. If we have to suffer a little bit, it's okay.'

Your opinion? pic.twitter.com/hKumtOBCG3

— Janta Journal (@JantaJournal) January 27, 2025

The remarks come as the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have made illegal immigration a central theme of their respective campaign, accusing each other of letting illegal settlers in the national capital.

With orders from LG VK Saxena, the Delhi Police has intensified its crackdown on illegal Bangladeshi migrants. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has vowed to rid Delhi of illegal Bangladeshis and Rohingyas if the BJP wins the election.

The BJP has also accused the ruling AAP of providing ration and Aadhaar cards to Bangladeshi "infiltrators" to secure votes—a charge denied by AAP which has pointed fingers at the Union government over porous borders enabling the illegal immigrants to enter the country.

'Shocking And Irresponsible': BJP Slams Sam Pitroda's Remarks

Meanwhile, reacting sharply to the latest row, BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari called Pitroda's remarks "outrageous" and "shocking."  

"Rahul Gandhi's right-hand man Sam Pitroda's statement advocating for illegal migrants to settle in India, even at the country's expense, is shocking and irresponsible," Bhandari posted on X.  

"Now you wonder how Congress, since the last 70 years, worked overtime to settle illegals in our country!" he added.  

OUTRAGEOUS!

Rahul Gandhi’s right hand man Sam Pitroda’s statement advocating for illegal migrants to settle in India, even at the country’s expense, is shocking and irresponsible.

Now you wonder how Congress since the last 70 years worked overtime to settle ILLEGALS in our… pic.twitter.com/kKVFusDD71

— Pradeep Bhandari(प्रदीप भंडारी)🇮🇳 (@pradip103) January 27, 2025

Pitroda has a history of making controversial remarks. During the Lok Sabha elections last year, he stepped down from his position in the Congress following backlash over his comments that Indians in the East resemble the Chinese, while those in the South look like Africans.  

In April, he sparked another row with his comments on inheritance tax, suggesting that wealth should be partially redistributed after death. "In America, there is an inheritance tax. If one has $100 million worth of wealth, when he dies, he can only transfer probably 45 per cent to his children, and the remaining 55 per cent is grabbed by the government. That's an interesting law. It says you in your generation made wealth and you are leaving now, you must leave your wealth for the public, not all of it, half of it, which to me sounds fair," Pitroda had said.  

The Congress had distanced itself from his remarks at the time. However, despite the controversies, Pitroda was reinstated as the head of the Indian Overseas Congress in June last year.