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His “inheritance tax” storm had yet not settled, that former Chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress Sam Pitroda, sparked another controversy with his racist remarks. Clearly, Congress is in soup. Though the Congress party immediately distanced itself from Pitroda’s comment, the damage had already been done!
Pitroda, in an interview with The Statesman had said, “We could hold together a country as diverse as India — where people on the East look like Chinese, people on the West look like Arabs, people on the North look like maybe Whites and people in South India look like Africans. It doesn’t matter. We are all brothers and sisters.”
Out-of-turn comments by Pitroda have proved a challenge for the Congress amid the election. Earlier, his comment on inheritance tax in the United States as an example of “new policies “that can help prevent concentration of wealth” and should be discussed and debated. The Congress, he had added, always helps people at the bottom of the economic pyramid.
However, realising the impact his racist comment on elections, Pitroda stepped down from his post amid a huge political row over his controversial remarks. Calling his comments racist, leaders of the BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have accused the Congress of pursuing divisive practices.
The party’s communications-in-charge Jairam Ramesh said on X, “Mr. Sam Pitroda has decided to step down as Chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress of his own accord. The Congress President has accepted his decision.”
The analogies drawn by Mr. Sam Pitroda in a podcast to illustrate India’s diversity are most unfortunate and unacceptable. The Indian National Congress completely dissociates itself from these analogies.
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) May 8, 2024
Ramesh further said, “The analogies drawn by Sam Pitroda in a podcast to illustrate India’s diversity are most unfortunate and unacceptable. The Indian National Congress completely dissociates itself from these analogies.”
Reacting to Pitroda’s remark, Modi hit out at Rahul Gandhi and said India will not tolerate this insult. He said, “One Shahzade uncle lives in America. When there is any confusion, he takes opinion with his uncle. His uncle said those whose skin is black color are African. He called our Indian people African. Now I understand why they keep insulting our president Droupdi Murmu, just because her skin colour is black they thought she is African and they should defeat her. Shahzade’s uncle Sam Pitroda is his 3rd Umpire.”
“I am very angry today , if someone abuse me, I can tolerate it but today, Shahzade’s philosopher had crossed limit. Will skin colour now decide our ability? They are insulting people of India on basis of skin colour. I will not tolerate insult of my fellow Indians,” he added.
Sharing similar sentiments, the chief ministers of the north-eastern states too have slammed Pitroda for his allegedly racist remarks while describing India’s diversity.
Taking to X, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma wrote, “Sam bhai, I am from the North East and I look like an Indian. We are a diverse country – we may look different but we are all one. Hamare desh ke bare mein thoda to samajh lo (learn a bit about our country)!”
His Manipur counterpart, Nongthombam Biren Singh, said Pitroda should say sorry for being racist. “We are proud Indians. He should apologise to everyone for the racist remarks. Some elements are trying to divide us, but we won’t allow them (to) do so.”
Sam bhai, I am from the North East and I look like an Indian. We are a diverse country – we may look different but we are all one.
Hamare desh ke bare mein thoda to samajh lo! https://t.co/eXairi0n1n
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (Modi Ka Parivar) (@himantabiswa) May 8, 2024
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said he was “disappointed and hurt” by the remarks. “I condemn such statements. In any context, it’s just a wrong statement to make. People of the Northeast have faced racial discrimination. It’s a sensitive matter.”
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, and from Ahmedabad to Arunachal Pradesh people have only one identity – Indian. “But blinded by the greed of power, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s mentor Sam Pitroda and the discriminatory INDI Alliance mentality has gone so low that they are now judging the people of India by their skin colour and face. I strongly condemn this disgusting mentality,” he wrote on X.
It seems like there is no end to the Congress party’s trouble. Making such unwarranted remarks will only add fuel to fire. Senior party leaders should focus more on the agendas and the progress of country, rather than thinking of encashing on the sentiments of the poor or divisive language for personal interests.
