BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad attacked Rahul Gandhi after Sam Pitroda’s remark on Pakistan. Critics say such statements are blown out of proportion to divert public focus from governance failures.

BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad on Saturday hit out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi after his aide Sam Pitroda reportedly said he “felt at home in Pakistan.” Prasad claimed, “Why do all friends of Rahul Gandhi love Pakistan?” and suggested Pitroda should “move there.”

The ruling party also demanded an apology from the Gandhi family, linking the remark to earlier controversies involving Pakistan-based figures. BJP spokespersons accused the Congress of “silence” and “anti-India narratives.”

However, critics argue that the government often amplifies such comments to divert attention from burning issues like inflation, unemployment, farmer protests, and governance failures. Instead of focusing on real challenges faced by citizens, the political discourse is frequently shifted toward Pakistan, a strategy repeatedly used during election seasons.

Analysts point out that Pitroda’s statement about improving ties with neighbors could have been interpreted as a call for diplomacy, but BJP chose to frame it as an “anti-national” act. This not only reduces the space for healthy debate but also sidelines discussions on accountability of the ruling government.

While the BJP claims to defend India’s sovereignty, many see this as yet another attempt to polarize sentiment and silence opposition voices. For ordinary Indians, the real question remains: will these debates solve their everyday struggles, or simply fuel another round of political blame games?