Rahul Gandhi confidant Sam Pitroda questions death toll in Balakot air strike, bats for dialogue with Pakistan

Close confidant of Rahul Gandhi and Chairman of Overseas Indian National Congress questioned death toll in Balakot airstrike conducted by Indian Air Force in Pakistan in retaliation to Pulwama terror attack.

“If y (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 airstrike against Jaish-e-Mohamm camp in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region, he ded that international news outlets h an alternate view of impact of air strike and that people of India deserved to kw facts of Air Force operation.

“I would like to kw a little more because I re reports in New York Times and or newspapers. Did we really attack? We really killed 300 people? I don’t kw that. As a citizen, I am entitled to kw and if I ask it is my duty to ask, that doesn’t mean I’m t a nationalist, That doesn’t mean I am on this side or that side. We need to kw facts. If you say 300 people were killed, I need to kw that. We all need to kw that, people of India need to kw that and n comes global media which says body was killed. I look b as an Indian citizen,” said Pitroda.

Pitroda, who is part of Congress’ manifesto committee for 2019 Lok Sabha elections and is considered a senior ideologue of party, sought a dialogue with Pakistan. “I am a Gandhian, I believe in more compassion and respect. I believe in more dialogues personally. I think we should have a dialogue with everybody. Why just Pakistan? We are having dialogue with whole world,” ded Pitroda.

Pressed furr to clarify if talks with Pakistan was an option post Pulwama terror attack which killed 40 CRPF jawans, Pitroda said that it would be naive to assume that if some people came here and attacked, every citizen of that nation is to be blamed. “I don’t kw much about (Pulwama) attack, it happens all time, attack happen in Mumbai Taj hotel and Oberoi hotel. We could have reacted n and sent our planes but that is t right approach according to me that’s t how you deal with World. Eight people come (referring to Mumbai 26/11 attacks) and do something, you don’t jump on entire nation,” said Sam Pitroda in an interview to ANI.

When asked if he questioned Indian Air Force’s version of Balakot air strikes, Pitroda clarified that an attack is different from making a claim of 300 de. “We cant be emotional. Data has to be neutral. So you come in today and say ‘I killed 300 people’ and I say wait a minute, World is saying we didn’t kill anybody or kill less or kill more.. I don’t kw,” ded Pitroda.

Sam Pitroda ded a caveat to his remarks on Pulwama terror attack and Balakot air strikes by saying that views expressed by him were his personal views and t those of Congress party. “I am talking as an individual. I am talking as a scientist. I believe in reason. I believe in logic. I believe in data. I don’t believe in emotions,” he ded.

When asked if Dr. Manmohan Singh when Prime Minister was as decisive in his actions as PM Narendra Modi, Pitroda said that PM Manmohan Singh was one of best Prime Ministers country ever h. “A lot of people ridiculed, a lot of people have written articles, y have done movies. It is all bogus,” he ded. Pitroda also said that he disagreed with way PM Modi acted post-Pulwama attack.

Pitroda went on to say in interview that since 2014, a populist government h risen in both India and United States. “ formula is to create fear by saying that re is enemy at border. In India, it is Pakistan. In US, it is Mexican immigrants. n say everything is b because body is competent,” he ded.