Modi, Sam Pitroda swap Diwali greetings after conciliatory remarks
Synopsis
PM Modi addressed Sam Pitroda as 'Sam Bhai' and Pitroda replied with 'Narendra Bhai' — a rare moment of warmth between two figures who have traded sharp political barbs for years. Pitroda's framing — 'I can disagree with Mr Modi and also have dinner with him' — stands out in an era of relentlessly zero-sum political discourse.
Key Takeaways
PM Narendra Modi and Congress leader Sam Pitroda exchanged Diwali and Nutan Varsh greetings on 12 November .
Pitroda described Modi as a ' Gujarati friend ' and said disagreements are ideological, not personal.
Modi addressed Pitroda as ' Sam Bhai ' on social media; Pitroda replied addressing him as ' Narendra Bhai .' Pitroda praised Modi's ' hard work and communication skills ' while maintaining criticism of his political positions.
The exchange is considered rare given the typically acrimonious nature of BJP-Congress interactions.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and veteran Indian National Congress leader Sam Pitroda exchanged warm Diwali and Nutan Varsh greetings on Thursday, 12 November, in a rare moment of cross-party civility that briefly cut through years of sharp political sparring. The exchange followed a series of conciliatory remarks Pitroda made about the Prime Minister in a media interview, describing him as a 'Gujarati friend' and stressing that his disagreements with Modi are rooted in ideology, not personal animosity.
Pitroda's Conciliatory Remarks
In the interview, Sam Pitroda recalled meeting Modi on multiple occasions alongside his wife and said the Prime Minister had consistently been 'courteous, warm, kind, loving and caring' in personal interactions. He drew a clear line between political opposition and personal hostility.
'I respect him as a person... We have no personal issues. I have nothing against Mr Modi as a Gujarati leader, friend or well-wisher,' Pitroda said. He added: 'I can disagree with Mr Modi, and I can also have dinner with him and have a laugh.'
Pitroda also acknowledged Modi's work ethic and communication skills, even while maintaining criticism of several of his political positions — a nuance that is relatively uncommon in today's polarised political climate.
Modi's Social Media Response
Hours after Pitroda's remarks circulated, Prime Minister Modi responded on social media with a festive message, addressing the Congress leader warmly as 'Sam Bhai.' Modi wished Pitroda and his wife, Anjana Ben, a happy Diwali and Nutan Varsh, praying for their good health and happiness in the coming year. He concluded the message with 'Jai Jagannath!'
Pitroda responded in kind, thanking 'Narendra Bhai' for the wishes and extending festive greetings in return. He also wished the Prime Minister good health and a long life.
What the Exchange Signals
The cordial interaction is notable precisely because it runs counter to the acrimonious tenor of exchanges between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress in recent years. Pitroda, who served as an adviser to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and has been a frequent target of BJP criticism, has previously made remarks that triggered significant political controversy.
This comes amid a broader political environment defined by deep polarisation, making moments of personal goodwill between high-profile figures from rival camps relatively rare and newsworthy. Pitroda reinforced the point explicitly, stressing that political debates should be kept separate from personal relationships and that civil engagement between opponents is both possible and desirable.
Context and Significance
The Diwali-Nutan Varsh greeting exchange also carries a Gujarati cultural dimension — both Modi and Pitroda have Gujarat connections, and the use of fraternal honorifics ('Sam Bhai', 'Narendra Bhai') reflects a cultural register of familiarity. While the gesture does not signal any political realignment, observers note it offers a brief but meaningful contrast to the norm of zero-sum political discourse that dominates national headlines.
Whether this moment of personal warmth translates into any broader thaw in BJP-Congress relations remains to be seen.
Point of View
And his latest conciliatory framing could be read as a personal recalibration or simply a festive gesture. What is worth noting is that the BJP's sharpest critics and the ruling party's standard-bearers rarely allow even symbolic cordiality to surface publicly — the fact that both sides leaned into 'Bhai' honorifics suggests a deliberate, if limited, signal. It changes nothing structurally in BJP-Congress relations, but it does push back, however briefly, against the idea that political opponents must be personal enemies — a norm that has hardened considerably over the last decade.
NationPress
13 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did PM Modi and Sam Pitroda exchange Diwali greetings?
The exchange followed conciliatory remarks Pitroda made in a media interview, calling Modi a 'Gujarati friend' and stressing that his disagreements with the Prime Minister are ideological rather than personal. Modi responded on social media with festive wishes, and Pitroda replied in a similarly warm tone.
What did Sam Pitroda say about PM Modi?
Pitroda said he respects Modi as a person and has no personal issues with him, describing the Prime Minister as 'courteous, warm, kind, loving and caring' in personal interactions. He also acknowledged Modi's hard work and communication skills while maintaining his opposition to several of Modi's political positions.
How did PM Modi address Sam Pitroda on social media?
PM Modi addressed Pitroda as 'Sam Bhai' in his social media message, wishing him and his wife Anjana Ben a happy Diwali and Nutan Varsh and praying for their good health. He concluded the message with 'Jai Jagannath!'
Is this exchange a sign of a political thaw between BJP and Congress?
No political realignment is indicated by the exchange. Both sides maintained their ideological positions; the gesture was described as an expression of personal civility rather than any shift in political stance. Pitroda himself was explicit that political debate and personal relationships can coexist separately.
