Sam Pitroda stirred controversy after claiming disruptions during a lecture at IIT Ranchi, prompting the Education Ministry to clarify that no such institution exists in Jharkhand. They stated that Pitroda’s claims about hackers disrupting his speech were “baseless” and aimed at damaging the reputation of a reputable institution. The ministry condemned his statements and warned of legal repercussions. This incident follows recent criticisms of Pitroda for suggesting a change in India’s approach to China, which the BJP labeled as undermining India’s sovereignty. The Congress party distanced itself from his views, emphasizing China’s status as a significant challenge.
New Delhi:
Sam Pitroda found himself at the center of yet another controversy after the central government fact-checked the Congress veteran regarding a claim he made about disruptions during a lecture at the ‘Indian Institute of Technology in Ranchi’.
The Education Ministry issued a pointed statement on Wednesday, clarifying that there is no IIT in the capital of Jharkhand. Instead, the ministry noted, there exists an Indian Institute of Information Technology.
However, IIIT Ranchi does not have any record of Mr. Pitroda being invited to give a lecture, either in-person or via video link, according to the ministry, which deemed the claim about hacker-vandals and an interrupted speech as a “baseless and reckless statement… intended to tarnish the reputation of an extremely reputable institution”.
“This institution has withstood the test of time and has produced some of the brightest minds in the country…” stated the ministry, referring to Mr. Pitroda as an “uninformed person”. “The reputations of IITs are founded on the merit, hard work, and accomplishments of numerous students, teachers, and the academic community.”
Clarification on the recent remarks made by Shri Sam Pitroda in his webcast
It has come to our attention that Shri Sam Pitroda shared a video on his “X” handle on February 22, 2025. In that video, he claimed he was addressing several hundred students at IIT Ranchi,…
— Ministry of Education (@EduMinOfIndia) February 26, 2025
The ministry expressed its strong disapproval of Mr. Pitroda’s statement and reiterated that any attempts to tarnish the image of the premier institution would result in legal consequences.
This latest controversy involving Mr. Pitroda arose after he referred to the ‘IIT Ranchi lecture disruption’ during a podcast shared on his X account on February 22.
In the video—which discussed the relevance of Mahatma Gandhi in today’s world—Mr. Pitroda emphasized the importance of free speech in a democracy, stating, “Recently I was speaking at Ranchi IIT to hundreds of students… and someone hacked in and started showing pornography.”
“… (we) had to shut it (the video stream) down. Is that democracy? Is that fair? I don’t think so… I believe institutional independence is fundamental to democracy,” he commented.
Mr. Pitroda, an advisor to former Prime Minister and Congress icon Rajiv Gandhi, is viewed as a mentor to his son and Lok Sabha MP Rahul Gandhi and is no stranger to controversy.
Last week, his statements regarding China—suggesting India should alter its mindset and “confrontational approach” towards Beijing and cease viewing it as an enemy—sparked significant backlash from the BJP.
READ | “Stop Assuming China Is Enemy…”: Congress’ Sam Pitroda
The comments faced heavy criticism; the BJP labeled them a “grave blow to India’s sovereignty” and suggested they confirmed their belief that Congress has an ‘understanding’ with China.
READ | Congress Leader’s “China Not Enemy” Remark Sparks Row
BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari highlighted the connection between Mr. Pitroda and Mr. Gandhi, accusing Congress of prioritizing Chinese interests over India’s welfare.
In response, the Congress party distanced itself from Mr. Pitroda’s comments.
“The views expressed by Sam Pitroda on China do not reflect the stance of the Indian National Congress. China continues to be our greatest foreign policy, external security, and economic challenge,” stated the party’s communications head, Jairam Ramesh, on X.
READ | “Not Our Views”: Congress On Sam Pitroda’s China Remark
The China incident occurred just months after his comment on diversity—which led to accusations of racism—resulting in his temporary removal from the position as head of Congress’ overseas unit.
He was reinstated after clarifying his comments and asserting that the BJP had deliberately misconstrued his words. Subsequently, Mr. Ramesh stated that Mr. Pitroda had “assured” he would avoid controversies in the future. However, Mr. Pitroda contradicted that assurance.