PM Modi wishes Sam Pitroda on Diwali after 'Gujarati friend' remark
Synopsis
Sam Pitroda called Modi a 'Gujarati friend' who is 'very warm, kind, loving and caring' — and Modi replied on X with Diwali wishes addressed to 'Sam Bhai and Anjana Ben'. In a political climate defined by fierce BJP-Congress rivalry, this rare exchange of personal warmth is as notable for what it signals about individual relationships as for what it carefully sidesteps about ideology.
Key Takeaways
PM Narendra Modi extended Diwali and Gujarati New Year greetings to Sam Pitroda and wife Anjana in a post on X on 12 November 2026 .
Pitroda described Modi as a 'Gujarati friend' who is 'very warm, kind, loving and caring' in an interview.
Pitroda said he has no personal issues with Modi, only ideological differences.
The Congress leader noted he has visited Modi's home in Gujarat multiple times.
Modi addressed Pitroda as 'Sam Bhai' and his wife as 'Anjana Ben' in his X post.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, 12 November 2026, extended Diwali and Gujarati New Year greetings to Indian Overseas Congress chief Sam Pitroda and his wife Anjana, responding warmly after Pitroda publicly described the Prime Minister as a 'Gujarati friend' who is 'very kind' and 'hardworking' in a candid interview.
Modi's Message on X
In a post on X, Prime Minister Modi wrote: 'Happy Diwali and Nutan Varsh Abhinandan to you Sam Bhai and to Anjana Ben.' He added: 'Praying for a joyful and healthy year ahead. Jai Jagannath!' The gesture underscored a rare moment of cross-party cordiality between two figures who frequently find themselves on opposite sides of India's political divide.
What Pitroda Said
The exchange was set off by Pitroda's notably warm characterisation of the Prime Minister during an interview. Asked about his opinion of Modi — a question prompted by Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi once describing the PM as a 'big orator' — Pitroda said he 'respects him as a person' and considers him 'hardworking'.
'He is a Gujarati friend. I respect him as a person. I met him. My wife and I met him. He's been very warm, very kind, very loving, caring at a personal level. Of course, he's a good orator, hardworking, okay. We get along well,' Pitroda said. He added that he has 'nothing against Mr Modi as a Gujarati leader, friend, and well-wisher.'
Ideology vs Personal Relations
Pitroda was careful to draw a sharp line between personal warmth and political disagreement. 'I may have issues with his views of the world. I may have issues with his ideology. But that's a separate issue; that's not against the individual. It's against the idea,' he said. The Congress leader noted he has visited Modi's home in Gujarat on several occasions and that disagreement and friendship can coexist: 'I can disagree with Mr Modi, and I can also have dinner with him and have a laugh.'
Context and Significance
Pitroda has been a polarising figure in Indian politics — a close aide of the Gandhi family and a former technology adviser to the government — whose public statements have occasionally drawn sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). His effusive praise for Modi, delivered unprompted, is notably out of step with the adversarial tone that typically characterises Congress-BJP exchanges. This comes amid continued friction between the two parties over a range of policy and electoral issues. The Prime Minister's prompt social media response, addressing Pitroda as 'Sam Bhai' — an affectionate form of address — adds an unusually human dimension to the story. Notably, Modi's reply did not engage with political matters, keeping the exchange firmly in the register of festive goodwill.
Point of View
But because they were unsolicited and unusually specific — 'very warm, very kind, very loving, caring.' That framing goes well beyond the standard 'I have no personal animosity' boilerplate. Modi's response, brisk and affectionate, confirms a channel of personal goodwill that neither party's public posture would typically acknowledge. What this exchange does not do is bridge any ideological gap — Pitroda was careful to say the opposite. The more interesting question is whether this moment reflects a broader softening in tone ahead of an electoral cycle, or simply the natural courtesy of two Gujarati-connected figures observing a shared festival.
NationPress
12 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did PM Modi wish Sam Pitroda on Diwali?
PM Modi extended Diwali and Gujarati New Year wishes to Sam Pitroda on X after Pitroda described him as a 'Gujarati friend' who is 'very warm, kind, loving and caring' in an interview. Modi addressed Pitroda as 'Sam Bhai' and his wife as 'Anjana Ben' in the post.
What did Sam Pitroda say about PM Modi?
Pitroda said he respects Modi 'as a person', considers him 'hardworking' and 'a good orator', and described him as 'very warm, very kind, very loving, caring at a personal level.' He added that he has 'nothing against Mr Modi as a Gujarati leader, friend, and well-wisher.'
Does Sam Pitroda have political differences with PM Modi?
Yes. Pitroda explicitly separated personal warmth from political disagreement, saying he may have 'issues with his views of the world' and 'his ideology', but stressed these are separate from his feelings about Modi as an individual.
What is Nutan Varsh Abhinandan?
Nutan Varsh Abhinandan is a Gujarati phrase meaning 'New Year greetings.' The Gujarati New Year falls on the day after Diwali and is widely celebrated in Gujarat and among Gujarati communities globally.
