Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended Diwali and Gujarati New Year greetings to Indian Overseas Congress chief Sam Pitroda on Thursday. The interaction followed comments made by Mr. Pitroda in a media byte, where he spoke about his personal rapport with the Prime Minister.
In his remarks, Mr. Pitroda described Mr. Modi as a "Gujarati friend" whom he respects as a person. "He has been very warm, kind, loving, and caring at a personal level," Mr. Pitroda said, adding that while he may disagree with the Prime Minister's ideology or worldview, the two maintain no personal issues. Mr. Pitroda noted that he and the Prime Minister could "have dinner and a laugh" despite their professional and ideological differences.
Responding to these comments, the Prime Minister wrote on X, "Happy Diwali and Nutan Varsh Abhinandan to you Sam Bhai and to Anjana Ben. Praying for a joyful and healthy year ahead. Jai Jagannath!"
The exchange drew attention on social media, prompting an X user named Mihir Jha to ask the Prime Minister for similar festive wishes. Mr. Modi replied to the user, stating, "Aapko bhi Happy Diwali Mihir Bhai. Have a great festive season and year ahead," accompanied by a smiling emoji.
Key facts
- Prime Minister Modi’s message to Sam Pitroda wished him and his wife, Anjana Ben, a happy Diwali and Gujarati New Year.
- Sam Pitroda publicly described the Prime Minister as a "Gujarati friend" whom he respects on a personal level.
- The Prime Minister interacted with an X user, Mihir Jha, after the user requested similar holiday greetings.
- Mr. Pitroda stated he has visited the Prime Minister’s home in Gujarat on several occasions.
Why it matters
This public exchange marks a noted shift in tone following a history of sharp political criticism between the two. During the 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign, the Prime Minister had heavily criticised Mr. Pitroda over various remarks, including comments regarding inheritance tax and observations about the physical appearances of Indians from different regions.
Background
The relationship between the two figures has been marked by past tensions, including the Prime Minister’s 2019 criticism of Mr. Pitroda’s "hua toh hua" comment concerning the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, for which Mr. Pitroda subsequently issued an apology.
Source: Times of India, Indian Express
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