Chairman of Indian Overseas Congress Sam Pitroda has once again sparked a row as he reflected upon the diversity of India. During an interview with The Statesman posted on May 2, Pitroda spoke about how India is a shining example of democracy in the world. He said that the people of the country have “survived 75 years in a very happy environment where people could live together except a few fights here and there”. He further added that the people of India respect different languages, religion, food and customs which vary from region to region.
Pitroda further stated that the idea of India which is rooted in democracy, freedom, liberty, fraternity is being challenged today by “Ram temple”, “Ram navami”, as well as with Prime Minister Narendra Modi going to temple all the time and talking not as a national leader but as a leader of the BJP. But what caused a major controversy was his remarks that “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 Africa.”
The clip of the interview featuring Pitroda was shared widely across social media platforms. The racially charged comments by him have stirred a major controversy and left the Congress party red-faced. Though Congress swiftly distanced itself from the statement by calling it “unfortunate and unacceptable”, there is no doubt that it has sparked off widespread wrath. Perhaps to save face for his party over his controversial remarks amid the ongoing seven-phase Lok Sabha election, Pitroda on May 8 stepped down from the post as the party’s overseas unit chief.
