Later after fury over his remarks, he said as a clarification: “I just said as a citizen I am entitled to know what happened. I am not talking on behalf of party, just speaking as a citizen. I have right to know, what is wrong in it? I don't understand what is the controversy here, I am baffled at the response. Shows how people react to trivial matters in India. It is a totally trivial matter. A citizen is just asking a question."
Close confidant of Rahul Gandhi and Chairman of the Overseas Indian National Congress questioned the death toll in the Balakot airstrike conducted by the Indian Air Force in Pakistan in retaliation to the Pulwama terror attack.
"If they (IAF) killed 300, its ok. All I am saying is can you give me more facts and prove it," said Pitroda in a wide-ranging interview to ANI.
When asked on his views on the airstrike against the Jaish-e-Mohammad camp in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region, he added that international news outlets had an alternate view of the impact of the air strike and that the people of India deserved to know the facts of the Air Force operation.
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"I would like to know a little more because I read reports in the New York Times and other newspapers. Did we really attack? We really killed 300 people? I don't know that. As a citizen, I am entitled to know and if I ask it is my duty to ask, that doesn't mean I'm not a nationalist, That doesn't mean I am on this side or that side. We need to know the facts. If you say 300 people were killed, I need to know that. We all need to know that, people of India need to know that and then comes global media which says nobody was killed. I look bad as an Indian citizen," said Pitroda.
Later after fury over his remarks, he said as a clarification: “I just said as a citizen I am entitled to know what happened. I am not talking on behalf of party, just speaking as a citizen. I have right to know, what is wrong in it? I don't understand what is the controversy here, I am baffled at the response. Shows how people react to trivial matters in India. It is a totally trivial matter. A citizen is just asking a question."
1. PM Modi slams Pitroda
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday slammed Sam Pitroda, a confidant of Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, for questioning the death toll in the Balakot airstrike in Pakistan, saying that Pitroda has "kick-started the Pakistan National Day celebrations on behalf of the Congress". "The most trusted advisor and guide of the Congress President has kick-started the Pakistan National Day celebrations on behalf of the Congress, ironically by demeaning India's armed forces. Shame !" tweeted Modi. Pakistan observes its National Day on March 23.
2. #JantaMaafNahiKaregi
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In a series of tweets, he said, "Loyal courtier of Congress' royal dynasty admits what the nation already knew- Congress was unwilling to respond to forces of terror. This is a New India- we will answer terrorists in a language they understand and with interest!" "Opposition insults our forces time and again. I appeal to my fellow Indians- question Opposition leaders on their statements. Tell them- 130 crore Indians will not forgive or forget the Opposition for their antics. India stands firmly with our forces. #JantaMaafNahiKaregi" the Prime Minister said on the social networking site.
3. Pitroda demands facts
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Pitroda, also the chairman of Overseas Indian National Congress, in an exclusive interview to ANI, questioned the death toll in the Balakot airstrike conducted by the Indian Air Force in retaliation to the Pulwama terror attack. "If they (IAF) killed 300, its ok. All I am saying is can you give me more facts and prove it," he said. Pitroda referred to international news outlets reporting a contrary view on the impact of the air strike and asserted that the people of India deserved to know the facts about the operation.
