Congress’s overseas unit chairman, Sam Pitroda, has once again put the party in an awkward position after his recent claim of facing “disruption” during a speech at the “Indian Institute of Technology-Ranchi” was fact-checked by the Union Ministry of Education.

“It is hereby clarified that there is no IIT in Ranchi. Therefore, the statement made (by Pitroda) in that video is not only baseless but also reeks of ignorance. It is pertinent to state that there is an Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) in Ranchi. But IT, Ranchi has also confirmed that Shri Sam Pitroda has not been invited by the Institute to any conference/seminar to deliver a lecture, physically or virtually. Such a reckless statement seems to be an attempt to malign the image of an extremely reputed institution of the country…,” the ministry stated in an X post on Wednesday.

The ministry further condemned Pitroda’s remarks, emphasizing that any attempt to tarnish the reputation of premier institutions would face legal consequences.

Pitroda, who describes himself as a “telecom inventor, entrepreneur, development thinker, and policy maker” on his website, first became associated with Congress as an adviser to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. He later became the first chairman of the Telecom Commission in 1989.

Recently, Karnataka BJP leader N. R. Ramesh filed a complaint against Pitroda, alleging illegal occupation of 12.35 acres of reserve forest land in Yelahanka, Bengaluru, since 2011. Ramesh approached the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Karnataka Lokayukta, accusing Pitroda of misusing land leased for medicinal research and continuing to occupy it even after the lease expired in 2011, allegedly for illegal profits.

Denying the allegations, Pitroda stated that he does not own any land, home, or stocks in India. “Additionally, during my tenure working with the Government of India—whether with Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in the mid-1980s or with Dr. Manmohan Singh from 2004 to 2014—I have never taken/received any salary,” he wrote on X.

Just last week, Pitroda stirred controversy by downplaying the China threat, suggesting it was “blown out of proportion.” In an interview with IANS, he remarked, “I don’t understand the threat from China. I think this issue is often exaggerated because the US tends to define an enemy. The time has come for all nations to collaborate, not confront… We need to change this mindset and stop assuming that China is the enemy from day one.” His comments prompted the Congress to publicly distance itself from his views.

Despite his history of contentious statements, the 81-year-old remains an influential figure within the Congress, so much so that the party reinstated him as its overseas unit chairman just weeks after he resigned in May last year over racially charged comments during the Lok Sabha elections.

Congress insiders attribute Pitroda’s continued relevance to his extensive international network, which the party leadership considers crucial for amplifying its message beyond India. “If you see who Pitroda is, you’ll understand why the Congress cannot let him go. He has deep ties with academic circles abroad, particularly in the West. He helps the party organize events internationally and has strong connections within the diplomatic community,” a Congress leader explained.

Pitroda has played a pivotal role in arranging Rahul Gandhi’s overseas engagements, often facilitating his interactions with educational institutions and global experts. In February-March 2023, he orchestrated a series of events during Rahul’s UK tour, including an address at Cambridge University’s Judge Business School, a discussion at Chatham House in London, and a meeting with Indian-origin Labour Party MP Virendra Sharma.

Indian Overseas Congress Secretary Virendra Vashisht acknowledged Pitroda’s contributions, stating, “The primary role of our organization is to spread the Congress party’s message and Gandhian ideology beyond India. We engage with the Indian diaspora on social and political issues, and Pitroda ji’s work is instrumental in this.”

Another Congress leader emphasized Pitroda’s long-standing relationship with the Gandhi family as a key reason for his significance. “Pitroda used to take Re 1 as salary when he worked for Rajiv Gandhi ji. He has stood by the Gandhi family through thick and thin. Now that Congress is in a stronger position in the country, it won’t abandon a veteran leader like him. These things matter to the party,” the leader said.

Pitroda previously headed the National Knowledge Commission (2005–2009) under PM Manmohan Singh and later served as an adviser on public information infrastructure with Cabinet minister rank during Singh’s second term.

During the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, amid BJP’s criticism of the Congress manifesto over asset distribution, Pitroda stirred further controversy by calling the U.S. inheritance tax an “interesting law.”

Congress leaders privately admitted that Pitroda had become a “habitual offender” and needed a “stern message.”

His remarks have often created challenges for the party, including before the Ram Temple consecration when he questioned the national focus on the event. “When the entire nation is hung up on Ram Temple and Ram Janmabhoomi, it bothers me… To me, religion is something very personal,” he said.

Ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Pitroda had sparked another row by suggesting that the middle class should pay higher taxes to ensure a minimum income for the poor, urging them not to be “selfish.” This prompted senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram to clarify that the party had no plans to impose additional tax burdens.

He also courted controversy with his comments on the Modi government’s Balakot airstrike following the Pulwama attack, stating, “Attack happened in Mumbai too. We could have reacted and sent our planes, but that is not the right approach. If eight people (26/11 terrorists) come and do something, you don’t target the entire nation (Pakistan).”

During the same elections, when the BJP accused Rajiv Gandhi of ordering the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Pitroda dismissed the issue, saying, “Now what is there to say about 1984? Talk about what you did in the last five years. ’84 mein hua to hua. Aapne kya kiya (What happened in 1984 happened. What have you achieved)?”

Pitroda’s recurring missteps continue to test the Congress’s patience, yet his strategic importance to the party ensures that he remains firmly in the fold.