New Delhi/IBNS: Indian Overseas Congress chairperson Sam Pitroda has stirred a row with his comment on Congress' poll promise of "wealth distribution" amid the slugfest between the grand old party and ruling BJP, media reports said.

Defending the Congress' promise which has triggered sharp reactions from the BJP, Pitroda told ANI that the policy was in favour of people and not super-rich.

Pitroda was quoted by India Today, "If one has $100 million worth of wealth and when he dies he can only transfer probably 45% to his children, 55% is grabbed by the government. That's an interesting law.

"It says you, in your generation, made wealth, and you are leaving now, you must leave your wealth for the public, not all of it, half of it, which to me sounds fair."

"In India, you don't have that. If somebody is worth 10 billion, and he dies, his children get 10 billion and the public gets nothing... So these are the kind of issues people will have to debate and discuss," he added.

Congress distances itself

The Congress has distanced itself from Pitroda's remark stating it does not reflect the standpoint of the grand old party, which has been out of party for 10 years now.

Congress communications-in-charge Jairam Ramesh posted on X, " Mr Pitroda expresses his opinions freely on issues he feels strongly about. Surely, in a democracy an individual is at liberty to discuss, express, and debate his personal views.

"This does not mean that Mr. Pitroda's views always reflect the position of the Indian National Congress. Many times they do not. Sensationalising his comments now and tearing them out of context are deliberate and desperate attempts at diverting attention away from Mr. Narenda Modi's malicious and mischievous election campaign; that is anchored ONLY in lies and more lies."

Congress is exposed, says BJP

Reacting to Pitroda's remark, Union Minister and BJP top leader Amit Shah told ANI, "After Sam Pitroda's remark, Congress party is completely exposed. First of all, mention of 'survey' in their manifesto, Manmohan Singh's old statement which is Congress' legacy - that minorities have the first right over resources of the country, and now Sam Pitroda's remark citing the US that there should be deliberations on the distribution of wealth...

"Now when PM Modi raised this issue, Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and the entire Congress party are on the backfoot that it was never their motive. But today, Sam Pitroda's statement has made Congress' motive clear before the country."

"They want to survey the private property of the people of the country, put it in government property and distribute it as per decision during UPA's regime. Congress should either withdraw it from their manifesto or accept that it is indeed their intention...I want people to take Sam Pitroda's statement seriously. Their intention is now in the open, its cognisance should be taken by people..."

Sam Pitroda clarifies

Facing flak, Pitroda clarified his remark and posted on X, "It is unfortunate that what I said as an individual on inheritance tax in the US is twisted by Godi media to divert attention from what lies PM is spreading about Congress manifesto. PM’s comments Mangal Sutra & gold snatching is simply unreal."

Pitroda added, "I mentioned US inheritance tax in the US only as an example in my normal conversation on TV. Can I not mention facts ? I said these are the kind of issues people will have to discuss and debate. This has nothing to do with policy of any party including congress."

He added, "Who said 55% will be taken away ? Who said some thing like this should be done in India ? Why is BJP and media in panic ?"

Congress to distribute country's assets among infiltrators: Modi's remark sparks row

Pitroda made the remark days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is the biggest votecatcher for BJP, controversially claimed Congress, if it comes to power, will distribute the country's assets among infiltrators. Modi said this referring to the Congress' poll manifesto.

"Congress' manifesto is stating that they will calculate the gold of mothers and sisters and then distribute those people, who were called by Manmohan Singh-ji as the first claimants to the country's assets

"This kind of an Urban Naxal thought won't spare the Mangalsutras of women. They will reach this far, I will tell you," the Prime Minister said.