After being wrapped up in controversy for inheritance tax remarks last month, once again Sam Pitroda unintentionally triggered a political storm and a meme fest on X with a racially incorrect remark, while merely trying to highlight the diversity in India.
Sam Pitroda’s remark is not just racist but there is clear essence to belittle Spiritual, religious and heritage values of the nation.pic.twitter.com/PWCtkhrlHC
— The Hawk Eye (@thehawkeyex) May 8, 2024
To escape the wrath of the public, Congress sought damage control with Pitroda’s resignation from his Chairman post.
Pitroda’s comment could potentially jeopardize general elections for Indian National Congress. As a precautionary step, its Communications secretary took to X and posted, “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.” Following this Mallickarjun Kharge, Congress president, accepted Pitroda’s resignation yesterday evening.
What exactly did Sam Pitroda say?
On May 3rd, The Statesman interviewed Sam Pitroda about congress prospects in the 2024 election. While discussing the segment of diversity in India, Pitroda described Indian diversity in the backdrop of racial bias — segregating Indians in groups of 4 on the basis of their skin tone and looks. “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,” Mr. Pitroda added, leaving audiences wondering if Congress has such racial mindset towards Indians.
Strikes at Sam Pitroda
Pitroda’s comment came at a time when political tensions are rising as India moves to the fourth phase of the 2024 elections. It offered the right-wing politicians a perfect bait to attack Congress with.
Addressing a rally in Telangana, the infuriated PM Modi slammed Pitroda and Congress for such a comment. “I do not get angry if someone abuses me. Today, the philosopher of ‘shehzada’ [prince] has inflicted such a big abuse that I am full of anger. Will people’s abilities in our country be decided by the color of their skin? Who has allowed the shehzada to play this game of skin?” He asked.
Chief Ministers of the North-eastern States also expressed their disgust over Pitroda’s racial remark — associating Indians from the North-East with the Chinese. “Such a mockery of India’s diversity is highly unacceptable,” said Manipur CM N Biren Singh.
Congress allies, CPI and AAP, did not refrain from hitting back at Pitroda for his comment, acknowledging that the Overseas Congress leader “gave a handle to the right wing forces to attack”.
Members of the Congress party also expressed their dissent over the matter but their “hands are tied” and “could only dissociate the party from his remarks.” They believe that the Gandhis should send out a “stern message” to “habitual offenders” like him.
“I still don’t know what he brings to the Congress table apart from the fact that he coordinates and manages Rahul’s speaking engagements, including at various universities abroad,” said a party member.
Pitroda’s ties with the Gandhi Family
Sam Pitroda stepped into the political arena with the position of an advisor to PM Rajiv Gandhi in 1987. During his tenure he headed six technology missions related to telecommunications, water, literacy, immunization, dairy and oilseeds. He served the PM for nearly a decade and made significant contributions to empower India’s IT industry. Ever since, he has been a close aide to the Gandhi family and offered multiple prestigious positions when Congress was in power. He has served the party as a high-level advisor to PM Manmohan Singh as well.
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