The Congress party has decided to bring back Sam Pitroda as the chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress. This comes just a month after he had resigned because of some comments he made that caused a lot of controversy.
During the Lok Sabha election campaign, Sam Pitroda’s remarks about race and ethnicity were criticized by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). They accused the Congress of being “racist” because of what he said.
In a podcast, Pitroda talked about how people in different parts of India look different from each other. He mentioned that people in the eastern parts of India might look similar to Chinese people, while those in the west might resemble Arabs. He also said that people in the north might have lighter skin tones, similar to some Europeans, and those in the south might have features that are similar to Africans.
However, Pitroda stressed that these physical differences don’t matter because all Indians are like brothers and sisters. He pointed out that despite these differences, India has managed to stay united as a country because people respect each other’s languages, religions, customs, and food habits.
Sam Pitroda Reappointed as Chairman of Overseas Congress
The Congress has reinstated Sam Pitroda as the Chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress, effective immediately. This decision comes weeks after he resigned from the post amidst criticism for his comments about the skin color of Indians.
According to senior leader KC Venugopal’s official announcement, “The Congress President has reappointed Shri Sam Pitroda as Chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress with immediate effect.”
Pitroda had stepped down on May 8 following controversy over his remarks comparing Indians in the East to Chinese and those in the South to Africans.
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Controversial Remarks by Sam Pitroda
Sam Pitroda faced backlash after his remarks during an interview where he said, “We could hold together a country as diverse as India — 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 Africans. It doesn’t matter. We are all brothers and sisters.”
The Congress party distanced itself from his comments, calling them ‘unacceptable’. Jairam Ramesh stated, “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.”
The BJP criticized the Congress, labeling Pitroda’s remarks as “racist and divisive”. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also condemned Rahul Gandhi for Pitroda’s comments, saying, “My country will not tolerate the disrespect of my countrymen on the basis of their skin colour.”
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed his disappointment, emphasizing India’s diversity, “We may look different, but we are all one. Please understand at least something about our country!”
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman accused Pitroda of racism, stating, “I am from South India. I look Indian! Thanks for revealing your mindset and your attitude.”
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q.1. Who is Sam Pitroda?
Ans. Sam Pitroda is a renowned Indian technocrat and politician known for his contributions to the telecom sector and association with the Indian National Congress.
Q.2. Why was Sam Pitroda reinstated as Chairman of Indian Overseas Congress?
Ans. Sam Pitroda was reinstated despite controversy over remarks about Indian diversity, reflecting Congress party decisions amid public and political reactions.
Q.3. What were Sam Pitroda’s controversial remarks?
Ans. Sam Pitroda remarked about physical appearances of Indians from different regions, which sparked criticism and accusations of racism from various quarters.
Q.4. How did political parties react to Sam Pitroda’s remarks?
Ans. The BJP criticized the Congress, labeling Pitroda’s remarks as racist. Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned Rahul Gandhi for the comments.
Q.5. What is the significance of Sam Pitroda’s role in the Indian Overseas Congress?
Ans. As Chairman, Sam Pitroda plays a crucial role in overseeing Congress party affairs related to overseas Indians and their engagement in Indian politics.
