Congress overseas chairman Sam Pitroda on Wednesday stepped down from his position after creating a political firestorm over his racial analogy to classify Indians from its various regions, even as “I look Indian” posts slamming the veteran leader overwhelmed the social media platforms.
With the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) targeting the Congress over Pitroda’s remarks, the announcement about the latter’s resignation was made by party’s communications-in-charge Jairam Ramesh 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 post read.
Days after triggering a row with his inheritance remark, Sam Pitroda has classified Indians and their looks regionally inviting jibes from the BJP in the election season.
In an interview to The Statesman, Pitroda said, “… diverse country… where people on East look like Chinese, people on West look like Arab, people on North look like maybe White and people in South look like Africa.”
His comments sparked a wave of reactions with the BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, attacking his Congress rival Rahul Gandhi, saying the country “won’t tolerate disrespect based on the colour of skin”.
Across social media platforms like Facebook and X, opposition leaders and netizens at large are posting their pictures captioning “I look like Indian” much to the embarrassment of the Congress.
Senior journalist Aditya Raj Kaul posted on X: “I am from Kashmir. I look like an Indian. Never in my life would I want to be called a white. Stop this racist ideology of hate. We are proud Indians. No matter where we come from in the country. Your myopic thinking is the reason India rejects you always.”
Kannada actress Pranitha Subhash wrote on her X handle: “I am a South Indian ! And I look Indian #SamPitroda.”
Modi attacks DMK over Pitroda remark
Following Sam Pitroda’s comments ‘people in south look like Africans’, PM Modi dared DMK chief MK Stalin to cut ties with its ally Congress.
Will MK Stalin “dare to cut ties with the Congress,” the Prime Minister questioned.
“They (the Congress) think people of northeast look like Chinese, South Indians look like Africans. I want to ask — will the people accept comments like this? I want to ask Siddaramaiah — is this ok? I want to ask the Telangana Chief Minister if he would accept,” he said.
Modi said the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu talks of Tamil culture but will the DMK have the courage to cut ties with the Congress for the sake of Tamil culture and heritage.
“The leaders of the Congress have divisive thoughts. The Congress mindset is to see the country in pieces. This is why the Congress leaders refuse to consider it one country and talk of division,” PM Modi said.
The DMK, however, responded in a nuanced language. While Pitroda’s comment was “unacceptable”, he was not altogether wrong, it said. “PM Modi was silent when a BJP MP made similar statements in the past,” the DMK said.
DMK spokesperson Dr SAS Hafeezullah said: “Sam Pitroda’s stereotyping comments are unacceptable. But his core concept of diversity isn’t wrong… That we are from different ethnic groups that united to form India is a fact. Sam Pitroda is nobody in the India [INDIA] alliance, and won’t impact India Alliance’s prospects.”
The Congress had earlier distanced itself from Pitroda’s remark stating it does not reflect the standpoint of the grand old party, which has been out of party for 10 years now.
Congress communications-in-charge Jairam Ramesh posted on X: “Mr Pitroda expresses his opinions freely on issues he feels strongly about. Surely, in a democracy an individual is at liberty to discuss, express, and debate his personal views.
“This does not mean that Mr. Pitroda’s views always reflect the position of the Indian National Congress. Many times they do not. Sensationalising his comments now and tearing them out of context are deliberate and desperate attempts at diverting attention away from Mr. Narenda Modi’s malicious and mischievous election campaign; that is anchored ONLY in lies and more lies.”