Sam Pitroda Resigns from Congress Over Racial Remarks
The Chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress, Sam Pitroda, resigned from his position on Wednesday afternoon, following a massive uproar over the congress leader’s controversial statements about the complexion of Indians.
Previously, during an interview for the statesman, Congress leader Sam Pitroda said, “People in the East look like Chinese, people in the West look like Arab, people in the North look like maybe White, and people in the South look like Africa.”
This remark about the diverse appearance of Indians all over the nation was not well received by political parties and leaders alike, with Pitroda receiving intense backlash over his remarks.
Over the past few days, criticism has mounted on the 82-year-old Congress leader, forcing him to step down today “on his own accord.” Congress General Secretary in-Charge (Media Relations & Communications), Jairam Ramesh, said Pitroda’s resignation was accepted by party President Mallikarjun Kharge.
Ramesh also announced the Congress had disassociated Pitroda over his controversial remarks, stating, “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.”
PM Narendra Modi hit back at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for Pitroda’s controversial remarks, stating Indians will not tolerate disrespect on the basis of their skin colour and Gandhi should be held accountable for Pitroda’s words.
Sam Pitroda’s disputed remark during the Interview
During an interview with The Statesman on May 2, Pitroda sought to symbolize the diversity of India by saying, “We could hold together a country as diverse as India— where People in the East look like Chinese, people in the West look like Arab, people in the North look like maybe White, and people in the South look like Africa. It doesn’t matter. We are all brothers and sisters.”
He also said India’s renowned democracy, liberty, fraternity, diversity, and freedom were being threatened by the BJP’s Hindutva ideology, and obsession with the “Ram temple.” He had also spoken about PM Narendra Modi acting less and less like a national leader but as a leader of the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP).
Despite arguing for the good intentions behind the comment, Pitroda faced massive backlash from netizens and political leaders alike over his racist comment about the diverse appearance of Indian citizens’.
The clip of the interview, particularly the scene where he compares Indian citizen’s complexions to Chinese, African, etc., has been reedited and shared over thousands of times on various social media platforms, amassing 4.8 million views over the last week.
While few understood Pitroda’s moral behind the sentences, most took offence. The resulting pressure from political leaders and social media forced the former Congress party chairman to rescind his position ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, political experts speculate.
Political Oppn criticizes Sam Pitroda’s controversial comments
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman (BJP), who hails from Tamil Nadu, called Pitroda racist and said, “I am from South India. I look Indian! My team has enthusiastic members from northeast 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 white! Thanks for revealing your mindset and your attitude.”
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma (BJP) took to X (formerly twitter) stating, “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! (Please understand at least something about our country).”
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
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala also took to X, stating Pitroda’s racist remarks are not the first and demanded his immediate expulsion from Congress. He also said, “Shabd Uncle Sam ke, Soch Rahul ki (Words are Uncle Sam’s, but the ideology is of Rahul Gandhi).”
BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad also criticised Sam Pitroda’s failure to understand the socio-political aspects of India, stating, “It is clear that he [Pitroda] 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.”
Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Sam Pitroda’s remarks and resignation have created instability in the Congress Party’s poll expectations. Political analysts speculate that, despite Pitroda’s resignation, “the damage has already been done.”
Comments 1