Thaindian News

New Delhi, Jan 30 (IANS) Sam Pitroda, technology and innovation advisor to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, will join senior Congress leaders at a function to release the party manifesto for Uttar Pradesh Tuesday.

This was revealed by party leader Mohan Prakash to journalists here.

Asked why Pitroda, a government functionary, is joining the party function, Prakash said: “Because Pitroda ia a Congress sympathiser.”

Party circles explained that Pitroda, 69, is not a government employee and was free to practise politics.

The manifesto is to be released simultaneously at state capital Lucknow and nine other towns. Sources told IANS Pitroda is likely to attend the function at Lucknow.

Pitroda, known for his contribution to India’s communication revolution during the late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi’s tenure in 1980s, had been chairman of the Knowledge Commission 2005-2008.

Of late, Rajiv’s son and party general secretary Rahul Gandhi has been highlighting the contributions of Odisha-born, US-educated Pitroda, who belongs to a backward caste.

Addressing a party poll rally in Akbarpur in Uttar Pradesh on Dec 18 last, Gandhi had said: “Twenty years back Rajiv Gandhi thought of bringing mobile phones to India. Do you know who brought them? Sam Pitroda, who is a Vishkarma, “Barahi” (carpenter). He brought mobile phones to your houses.”

Political circles view the selection of Pitroda as Gandhi’s style of highlighting the contribution of the backward castes and an effort to project the opportunities the Congress and its governments have provided to the socially marginalised sections.