Indian Overseas Congress Chairman, Sam Pitroda, has sparked a controversy with his statement, saying that people in the South India “look like Africans,” those in the East resemble “Chinese,” and those in the West resemble “Arabs.”
In an interview with ‘The Statesman’ newspaper, Pitroda, while speaking on India’s diversity, said, “We have survived 75 years in a very happy environment where people could live together, leaving aside a few fights here and there. We could hold a country together as diverse as India, where people on the east look like Chinese, people on the West look like Arab, people on the North look like white and maybe people on the South look like Africans.”
The Bharatiya Janata Party has slammed Pitroda over his remarks.
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Assam Chief Minister and BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma slammed Pitroda and said, “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. Understand a little about our country!”
The saffron party’s spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla also joined in the criticism alleging that “these were racist comments by a man who is the guru of Rahul Gandhi”.
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“It is the words and thinking of Rahul Gandhi only because these days Rahul is also playing the politics of divide and rule to such an extent that first they divide on caste and language lines and now they are doing Indians Vs Indians. To make comments like Indians are like Chinese. Isn’t this a racist comment? Isn’t this insulting? Indians are looking like Africans. Isn’t it the comment on the entire South people? By making these comments, it shows that Congress’ “Mohabbat ki dukaan” actually has “Nafrat ka saaman”. Unless Congress gives a complete explanation and sacks Sam Pitroda, this should be taken as the statement of the Congress,” Poonawalla said.
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BJP’s Mandi Lok Sabha seat candidate Kangana Ranaut also chipped in, “Sam Pitroda is Rahul Gandhi’s mentor. Listen to his racist & divisive jibes for Indians. Their whole ideology is about divide & rule. It’s sickening to call fellow Indians Chinese and African. Shame on Congress!”
Pitroda had earlier courted controversy when he had advocated an inheritance tax-like law in the country. However, the Congress had officially distanced itself from Pitroda’s comments saying that they did not reflect the view of the party at all times.
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Published: 08 May 2024, 12:43 PM IST