Modi addressed the chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress as “Sam Bhai” in a message posted on X, and included wishes for Pitroda’s wife, Anjana. The public exchange followed an interview in which Pitroda described the Prime Minister as a Gujarati friend with whom he had maintained cordial personal relations despite political disagreements.
“Happy Diwali and Nutan Varsh Abhinandan to you Sam Bhai and to Anjana Ben. Praying for a joyful and healthy year ahead. Jai Jagannath!” Modi wrote, using familiar forms of address associated with Gujarati conversation.
Pitroda, a longstanding Congress figure and associate of opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, had said he respected Modi as a person and appreciated the kindness shown to him and his wife during their meetings. His remarks distinguished private relationships from disagreements over political beliefs.
“He is a Gujarati friend. I respect him as a person,” Pitroda said. Recalling encounters involving his wife, he described Modi as “very warm, kind, loving and caring at a personal level”. He also called the Prime Minister a good orator and a hardworking person.
Pitroda said the two got along well and had no personal issues. He recalled visiting Modi’s home in Gujarat several times, saying those encounters had been friendly. His comments offered an unusually positive personal assessment of a leader whose government and political positions he has otherwise criticised.
“I have nothing against Mr Modi as a Gujarati leader, friend or well-wisher,” he said, adding that Modi had been warm towards him and that he appreciated the treatment. Pitroda made clear, however, that his favourable description of the Prime Minister did not amount to an endorsement of his politics.
“But I may have issues with his view of the world and I have issues with his ideology,” Pitroda said. He explained that criticism of a political position was different from hostility towards the person expressing it, and insisted the two should not be confused.
“I can disagree with Mr Modi and I can also have dinner with him and have a laugh,” he added. The observation underlined his argument that personal civility need not prevent robust political disagreement, even between figures associated with rival parties.
The comments and the response were made public on Thursday, with the interview preceding the Prime Minister’s post. Neither man announced a meeting or any further engagement.
The exchange attracted attention because Pitroda has frequently challenged the Bharatiya Janata Party government, while the BJP has criticised his statements. As head of the Congress overseas organisation, he has been associated with the party’s engagement with supporters outside India.
His remarks came amid continuing accusations by BJP figures that Congress leaders maintain links with foreign interests seeking to influence domestic politics. Pitroda rejected allegations involving himself and Rahul Gandhi and billionaire investor George Soros. Those allegations remain political claims.
Neither Modi’s greeting nor Pitroda’s comments indicated a change in party allegiance, policy position or political cooperation. Pitroda explicitly separated his respect for the Prime Minister’s personal conduct from his objections to Modi’s worldview. The Prime Minister’s public response, meanwhile, confined itself to seasonal good wishes.
The wording of Modi’s response reflected the personal tone of Pitroda’s interview. “Bhai” is a familiar expression meaning brother, while “Ben” is a respectful form of address for a woman in Gujarati. The greeting referred to both Pitroda and his wife rather than to the Congress organisation or any political matter. It was issued publicly, making the response visible.
Pitroda’s distinction between friendship and ideology was central to his account of their relationship. He did not withdraw his criticism of Modi’s political outlook or suggest that their disagreements had been resolved. Instead, he presented their encounters as an example of people maintaining friendly relations while holding opposing views.
The message also prompted an informal exchange with another user on X. Mihir Jha asked Modi, in Hindi, whether someone who could wish Pitroda a happy Diwali might also send him greetings. Modi responded directly, wishing him a happy Diwali.
Jha subsequently thanked the Prime Minister for the reply. Modi’s message to Pitroda had also ended with “Jai Jagannath”, a devotional salutation.
