Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic trip to the US on an Official State visit, Congress leader Sam Pitroda has said that the premier of the world’s most populous nation deserves respect everywhere and he is “proud” of it.

Pitroda, the chairperson of the Indian Overseas Congress, is currently accompanying Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on his three-city six-day US tour.

While Gandhi has focused on his alternate vision of India as against that of the ruling BJP and has been highly critical of Prime Minister Modi-led government, he has supported the ruling party’s foreign policy stands on issues like the war in Ukraine and China.

He (Gandhi) knows where we (India) are doing something right, we are all for it. And you see, someone told me that, the Indian Prime Minister is getting a lot of reception. And I said I’m happy about it because, at the end of the day, he’s also my prime minister. But let’s not make a mistake. He’s getting reception because he’s India’s prime minister. And not because he’s BJP’s prime minister. Separate these two things, Pitroda told PTI in an interview.

A prime minister of a nation of 1.5 billion people deserves respect everywhere. And I’m proud of it. I’m not negative about it, Pitroda, the senior Congress leader said. President Joe Biden will host Prime Minister Modi for an Official State visit to the US, which will include a state dinner, on June 22.

But you see, they twist every message. They confuse everything. And then they convert into personal attacks. Now that’s not democracy. Have some respect for other human beings. You will send 50 people chasing you on social media with lies, he said.