Sam Pitroda, a senior Congress leader and chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress, is fast appearing to be the “controversy king” for the grand old party. In the latest row, Pitroda made a “racist” remark while attempting to make a pitch for national unity. In seeking to explain the nuances of democracy, he compared Indians from different parts of the country to Chinese, Africans, Arabs and Whites.
Sam Pitroda’s latest controversy
In an interview with The Statesman, Pitroda, while talking about India as a shining example of democracy in the world said the people of the country have “survived 75 years in a very happy environment where people could live together leaving a few fights here and there”.
“We could hold together a country as diverse as India – where people in East look like Chinese, people in West look like Arab, people in North look like maybe White and people in South look like Africans,” Pitroda said.
“It doesn’t matter. We are all brothers and sisters,” he further said.
And Pitroda goes on…
Pitroda went on to say, “We all respect different languages, different religions, customs and food.”
“That’s the India that I believe in, where everybody has a place and everybody compromises little bit,” he added.
Pitroda AGAIN faces backlash
Pitroda, whose comments last month on inheritance tax in the United States which sparked a massive fight with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), again was slammed by the leaders of the ruling party, including chief ministers.
Pitroda, ‘INDI allaince’s shame!’
Union Finance Minister and BJP leader Nirmala Sitharaman said, “I am from South India. I look Indian! My team has enthusiastic members from north east India. They look Indian! My colleagues from west India look Indian! But, for the racist who is the mentor of Rahul Gandhi we all look African, Chinese, Arab and the White! Thanks for revealing your mindset and your attitude. I.N.D.I alliance’s shame!”
‘Shabd Uncle Sam ke, Soch Rahul ki’
Slamming opposition Congress and its leader, BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla said the comment made by Pitroda is a shocking, despicable and disgusting.
“He is the mentor of Rahul Gandhi. It is the word, spirit, vocabulary and ideology of Rahul Gandhi,” Poonawalla said.
“First, they divided on the basis of caste, religion and language. Now, they are dividing Indian vs. Indian. And to make a comment like Indians are like Chinese, isn’t it a racist comment?… Isn’t it an insulting and objectionable comment? It shows that ‘Congress ki Mohabbat ki Dukan actually has Nafrat and Racism ka Saman’,” Poonawalla added.
‘I can now understand why Rahul Gandhi speaks nonsense’
Senior BJP leader and party MP Ravi Shankar Prasad also attacked Pitroda for his comments and said: “It becomes clear again and again that what does Sam Pitroda understand about India. It is clear that he is a failure. He doesn’t understand the country. He is Rahul Gandhi’s advisor. I can now understand why Rahul Gandhi speaks nonsense…This is the frustration of defeat. They neither understand India nor its heritage.”
‘I look like an Indian’
Assam Chief Minister and BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma, in a post on X (formerly Twitter) said: “Sam bhai, I am from the northeast, 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!”
‘Congress has always tried to divide India’
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh sought apology from the Congress and Pitroda and said: “Such a mockery in the India’s diversity is highly unacceptable.”
“I condemn Congress leader, Sam Pitroida’s racist comment against the people of Northeast. The Congress has always tried to divide India with their Divide and Rule policy. But they must know that NE has been a part of India and will always be,” Singh said in a post on X.
‘Shame on Congress’
Actor-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut, BJP’s Lok Sabha candidate from Himachal Pradesh Mandi, also took a swipe at Pitroda for his “racist and divisive jibes for Indians.”
In April end, Pitroda triggered a political storm with his remarks where he expressed his support for the Congress’ stance on ‘resource redistribution’, drawing inspiration from the American system.
He said that in the United States, when a wealthy individual passes away, only a portion of their assets can be transferred to their children, while the government claims a significant share.
The Congress leader suggested that adopting a similar approach in India would be fair and beneficial for the public.
With inputs from agencies
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