Chairman of Indian Overseas Congress, Sam Pitroda stepped down from the post after his racist remark drew significant flak from across the country on Wednesday.
The seasoned politician has conveyed his decision to the Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge through a letter and emerging reports suggest that the latter has accepted his choice.
“Sam Pitroda has decided to step down as Chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress of his own accord,” informed party general secretary Jairam Ramesh, through a social media post.
Earlier, the Congress had distanced itself from the comment that had drawn racist comparisons of Indians across the country with those of the Chinese, Arabs, Africans, and ‘Whites’
“The analogies drawn by Mr Sam Pitroda in a podcast to illustrate India’s diversity are most unfortunate and unacceptable,” Ramesh had posted on social media.
Earlier, Pitroda, while deliberating on India’s diversity to a national daily, made comparisons between the physical appearances of people from different regions of India and those from China, Arab countries, African nations, and Caucasian populations.
This isn’t the first time the former advisor to Prime Ministers has sparked controversy with his remarks.
A few days ago, he had stirred the hornet’s nest with his “inheritance tax” comment that drew disapproval of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Meanwhile, Pitroda’s “people in the East look like Chinese” comment sparked criticism of three Chief Ministers from the Northeast on Wednesday.
While Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma called Pitroda’s comment “racist”, his Meghalaya and Manipur counterparts termed it “condemnable” and “irresponsible”.
“There is no racism in India and every colour in India is Indian,” Assam Chief Minister Sarma told the press.
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh even warned Pitroda of legal action, while Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, called it “derogatory and hurtful”.
“We, the people of Northeast, have experienced racial discrimination in the past, but now we have moved beyond that. But when such comments come from senior political leaders, its hurtful,” said Sangma.
