I feel at home in Pakistan... no need for India to fight our neighbour: Pitroda

NEW DELHI: After an unusually long silent spell, Sam Pitroda , chief of the Indian Overseas Congress , has struck again, giving BJP another handle to beat Congress with his statement to a news agency that "there's no need" for India to fight Pakistan and its other neighbours who "need help and are going through difficult times".

"Our foreign policy according to me must first focus on our neighbourhood. Can we really substantially improve ties with our neighbour? They are all small...," Pitroda said. "Of course there's a problem of violence and terrorism ...all that is there... but at the end of the day in that neighbourhood here is a common gene pool."

"I have been to Pakistan and I must tell you I felt at home. I have been to Bangladesh and Nepal and I feel at home. I don't feel like I am in a foreign country."

His remarks drew instant condemnation from BJP, with its media head Anil Baluni saying the Congress functionary has accused India of war mongering. "This is an abhorrent attempt to whitewash the fact of Pakistan's four unprovoked aggressions and its use of jihadi terror to wage an undeclared war against India." BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala said: "They articulate Pakistan's position... and undermine our forces... Pitroda who stays in the US, finds a home in Pakistan. Is anyone surprised?" He sought an apology from Congress netas Sonia and Rahul Gandhi .