Politics · India · 5 hrs ago
Modi sends Diwali wishes to Sam Pitroda after ‘Gujarati friend’ remark
Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent Diwali and Gujarati New Year greetings to Sam Pitroda in a post on X on Thursday.
Pitroda leads the Indian Overseas Congress and is a critic of Modi and the BJP-led government.
In an interview, Pitroda called Modi his “Gujarati friend” and said they had met several times, including with their spouses.
He said he respected Modi personally and described him as warm towards him.
Pitroda said his criticism was aimed at Modi’s political views and ideology, not at him as an individual.
Their exchange shows that personal cordiality can coexist with political disagreement; the accounts give no further developments.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent Diwali and Gujarati New Year greetings to Congress leader Sam Pitroda after Pitroda called him a “Gujarati friend.”
Pitroda said he respected Modi as a person and had no personal issues with him.
Pitroda distinguished their cordial personal relationship from his disagreements with Modi’s ideology and worldview.
Modi’s message also greeted Pitroda’s wife, Anjana.
After Modi’s post, he also wished an X user who asked for Diwali greetings.
- Who
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sam Pitroda, Indian Overseas Congress chief.
- What
- Modi sent Pitroda Diwali and Gujarati New Year greetings after Pitroda described him as a “Gujarati friend.
- When
- Thursday, November 12, 2026.
- Where
- Modi posted the greetings on X.
- Why
- Pitroda had spoken about respecting Modi personally and having no personal issues with him, despite political disagreements.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Pitroda spoke to a news agency about his personal relationship with Modi and called him a “Gujarati friend.
Modi posted Diwali and Gujarati New Year greetings to Pitroda and his wife on X.
After an X user asked for greetings too, Modi wished the user a happy Diwali.
- Recipients
- Sam Pitroda and his wife, Anjana
- Greeting
- Diwali and Nutan Varsh Abhinandan
- Platform
- X
- Date
- November 12, 2026
3 sources
What people are saying
Happy Diwali and Nutan Varsh Abhinandan to you Sam Bhai and to Anjana Ben. Praying for a joyful and healthy year ahead. Jai Jagannath
He is a Gujarati friend. I respect him as a person. My wife and I have met him,
But 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. And these are two separate things.
Posts on X
Happy Diwali and Nutan Varsh Abhinandan to you Sam Bhai and to Anjana Ben. Praying for a joyful and healthy year ahead. Jai Jagannath! @sampitroda