Sam Pitroda on Ram Temple- Bothers me that entire nation hung up on ‘diya jalao’

Sam Pitroda on Ram Temple: Bothers me that entire nation hung up on ‘diya jalao’

Indian Overseas Congress chairman Sam Pitroda said he is worried about the path that India takes in the future in view of too much importance being accorded to religion. The Congress leader’s remarks came in reference to the preparations for the consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been invited by the temple trust to install the idol of Lord Ram in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.

Pitroda, in an interview with ANI, said that he is bothered by this widespread sentiment that everything good in the country happens because of the Prime Minister. “There are signals I am getting that we are in the wrong direction. And when the entire nation is hung up on Ram Temple and Ram Janmabhoomi, diya jalao, it bothers me…To me, religion is something very personal and national issues are education, employment, growth, economy, inflation, health, environment, pollution. But no one speaks about it,” he said.

Pitroda further said that he saw religion as something very personal. “Don’t nationalise it. Don’t use it for political gains. A Prime Minister is spending time in temples all the time. It bothers me. I would rather have him go to schools, libraries and scientific institutions and not visit lots of temples,” he added.

Sam Pitroda on EVMs

Pitroda also questioned the credibility of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and claimed that there is mistrust beacause of Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines. “The answer is yes,” Pitroda said in response to a query on the possibility of EVMs being rigged as the Opposition has alleged.

“…mainly because of VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) is introduced, attached, working and it makes the electronic machine not a standalone machine. There is a report of the Citizen’s Commission on election. If you read the report you will know how serious this issue is. This report has been signed by 6,500 citizens… There is a mistrust because of this VVPAT…”

BJP hits back

Pitroda’s remarks drew immediate condemnation from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party at the Centre. Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar said that the comments were a reflection of Congress and Rahul Gandhi’s mindset.

“Sam Pitroda is the prime example of how far removed Rahul’s Congress is from the psyche of India. During UPA, Sam was a very powerful man and he was leading the prime minister’s innovation council… the 2G scam happened then, and he was silent about that. On inflation and other economic issues, he had said ‘what if there is some inflation’,” Chandrasekhar said, according to Hindustan Times.