Racist remarks row: Sam Pitroda steps down as Chairman of Indian Overseas Congress
Sam Pitroda steps down as Congress' overseas chief amid row over racist remark
Synopsis
Jairam Ramesh announced that Sam Pitroda has willingly stepped down from his role as Chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress. Pitroda's remarks comparing people from different regions ignited controversy, with the BJP criticising them as "racist" and using them to accuse the opposition party of promoting divisive politics.
By ET Online
Last Updated:
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh announced on Wednesday that Sam Pitroda has voluntarily chosen to step down from his position as Chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress. The decision was accepted by the Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.
Congress leader Sam Pitroda triggered controversy with his "people of the east look like the Chinese and those of the south look like Africans" remarks, with the ruling BJP latching on to his "racist" comments and claiming that those have exposed the opposition party's "divisive" politics.
In a podcast, Pitroda, remarked, "Over the past 75 years, we have thrived in a harmonious environment where people coexisted peacefully, despite occasional disagreements."
"We could hold the country as diverse as India together. Where people in the east look like the Chinese, people in the west look like the Arabs, people in the north look like, maybe, white and people in the south look like Africans. It does not matter. All of us are brothers and sisters. We respect different languages, different religions, different customs, different food," Pitroda said in the interview that was widely circulated on social media.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticized the Congress party for remarks made by its leader Sam Pitroda regarding skin color. He emphasized that such insults based on skin color would not be accepted by the people of the country.
Modi also targeted top Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, suggesting that the party attempted to defeat President Droupadi Murmu in the presidential election because of her dark skin tone.
As Pitroda's reported comments kicked up a row, Modi asked, "Will the ability of people be decided in my country on the basis of skin colour?"
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Congress leader Sam Pitroda triggered controversy with his "people of the east look like the Chinese and those of the south look like Africans" remarks, with the ruling BJP latching on to his "racist" comments and claiming that those have exposed the opposition party's "divisive" politics.
In a podcast, Pitroda, remarked, "Over the past 75 years, we have thrived in a harmonious environment where people coexisted peacefully, despite occasional disagreements."
"We could hold the country as diverse as India together. Where people in the east look like the Chinese, people in the west look like the Arabs, people in the north look like, maybe, white and people in the south look like Africans. It does not matter. All of us are brothers and sisters. We respect different languages, different religions, different customs, different food," Pitroda said in the interview that was widely circulated on social media.
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Racist remarks row: Modi attacks CongressPrime Minister Narendra Modi criticized the Congress party for remarks made by its leader Sam Pitroda regarding skin color. He emphasized that such insults based on skin color would not be accepted by the people of the country.
Modi also targeted top Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, suggesting that the party attempted to defeat President Droupadi Murmu in the presidential election because of her dark skin tone.
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As Pitroda's reported comments kicked up a row, Modi asked, "Will the ability of people be decided in my country on the basis of skin colour?"
(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)
( Originally published on May 08, 2024 )
