Sam Pitroda thanks PM Modi for Diwali wishes, calls him a 'Gujarati friend'
Synopsis
In a rare moment of cross-party warmth, Indian Overseas Congress chief Sam Pitroda publicly called PM Modi a 'Gujarati friend' he deeply respects — and the two exchanged Diwali greetings on X using affectionate 'Bhai' addresses. Pitroda was careful to separate personal cordiality from political opposition, saying his disagreement is 'against the idea, not the individual.'
Key Takeaways
Sam Pitroda , Chairperson of Indian Overseas Congress , thanked PM Narendra Modi on X for Diwali and Gujarati New Year greetings on Thursday .
PM Modi had first posted festive wishes — 'Happy Diwali and Nutan Varsh Abhinandan to you Sam Bhai ' — tagging a video clip of Pitroda's interview.
Pitroda described Modi as a ' Gujarati friend ' whom he respects personally, noting Modi had been 'warm, kind, loving and caring' at a personal level.
Pitroda drew a clear distinction between personal regard and political disagreement, saying his differences are 'against the idea, not the individual.' Pitroda is a close aide to Rahul Gandhi and a vocal critic of the BJP -led government, making the warm exchange notable in an increasingly polarised political climate.
Indian Overseas Congress Chairperson Sam Pitroda on Thursday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for extending Diwali and Gujarati New Year greetings to him and his wife, Anjana, reciprocating warm wishes for the Prime Minister's health in the year ahead. The cordial exchange on social media platform X came hours after Pitroda publicly described Modi as a personal friend he deeply respects, even as he maintained sharp political differences with the Prime Minister's ideology.
The Exchange on X
Prime Minister Modi initiated the exchange by sharing a video clip of Pitroda's interview on his official X handle, extending festive wishes to the veteran Congress leader. 'Happy Diwali and Nutan Varsh Abhinandan to you Sam Bhai and to Anjana Ben. Praying for a joyful and healthy year ahead. Jai Jagannath!' the Prime Minister posted.
Pitroda promptly responded: 'Thank you very much for the greetings, Narendra Bhai. We reciprocate the same and wish you healthy years ahead. Sam and Anjana.' The use of 'Narendra Bhai' and 'Sam Bhai' — informal, affectionate terms of address — underscored the personal warmth between the two, setting the exchange apart from typical political discourse.
Pitroda on His Personal Equation with Modi
Earlier in the day, Pitroda had offered a candid assessment of his relationship with the Prime Minister, drawing a clear line between political disagreement and personal regard. 'He is a Gujarati friend. I respect him as a person. My wife and I have met him. He has been very warm, kind, loving and caring at a personal level. Of course, he is a good orator and hard-working, and we get along well,' Pitroda said in remarks to reporters.
Pitroda — a close aide to Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and a vocal critic of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government — elaborated that he had visited Modi's residence in Gujarat on several occasions. He was careful to separate the personal from the ideological.
Politics vs. Person: Pitroda's Distinction
'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,' Pitroda said, adding that he could disagree with Modi politically while still sitting down to share a meal and a laugh with him. The remarks are notable given Pitroda's history as a sharp critic of BJP governance — and given the Congress party's sustained political battles with the Modi administration.
Notably, the exchange reflects a broader, if rarely publicly displayed, tradition of cross-party personal cordiality in Indian politics — one that tends to surface around festivals. The warm public interaction between two figures on opposite ends of the political spectrum is likely to draw attention in an increasingly polarised discourse.
Context and Significance
Pitroda has had a turbulent recent history in Indian politics, having previously sparked controversy with remarks that led to public distancing by the Congress. This latest exchange, however, is being received as a moment of political thaw — at least at the personal level. Whether it signals any broader shift in the Congress-BJP dynamic remains to be seen, with both sides firmly entrenched on policy and ideological grounds.
Point of View
But it rarely surfaces this publicly — and rarely between figures as politically opposed as Pitroda and Modi. What makes this exchange noteworthy is its timing: Pitroda has been a flashpoint for the Congress in recent years, and this conspicuously warm interaction could either soften his public image or complicate the party's attack lines against the government. The 'against the idea, not the individual' framing is a rhetorically sophisticated position, but it also hands the BJP an easy counter-narrative — that even Congress insiders find Modi personally admirable. Expect both sides to manage the optics carefully going forward.
NationPress
13 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Sam Pitroda thank PM Modi on X?
Sam Pitroda thanked PM Modi on X after the Prime Minister extended Diwali and Gujarati New Year greetings to Pitroda and his wife Anjana on the social media platform. Modi had also shared a video clip of Pitroda's interview alongside his festive message.
What did PM Modi post for Sam Pitroda on Diwali?
PM Modi posted: 'Happy Diwali and Nutan Varsh Abhinandan to you Sam Bhai and to Anjana Ben. Praying for a joyful and healthy year ahead. Jai Jagannath!' on his official X handle, addressing Pitroda affectionately as 'Sam Bhai.'
What did Sam Pitroda say about his personal relationship with PM Modi?
Pitroda described Modi as a 'Gujarati friend' whom he respects personally, saying Modi had been 'warm, kind, loving and caring' in personal interactions. He noted that he had visited Modi's residence in Gujarat on several occasions.
How does Pitroda separate his political views from his personal regard for Modi?
Pitroda explicitly said his disagreements are 'against the idea, not the individual,' clarifying that political differences with Modi's ideology do not affect their personal cordiality. He said he could disagree politically while still sharing a meal and a laugh with the Prime Minister.
Who is Sam Pitroda in Indian politics?
Sam Pitroda is the Chairperson of the Indian Overseas Congress and a long-time close aide to Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi. He has been a vocal critic of the BJP-led government and has previously drawn controversy for public remarks on sensitive political issues.
