'Sickening To Call Fellow Indians Chinese & African…': BJP Leaders, Lok Sabha Candidates Tear Into Sam Pitroda – News18

Days after senior Congress leader Sam Pitroda came under a spot due to his ‘inheritance tax’ remark, he has again grabbed headlines on Wednesday for his recent ‘racist’ remark on the appearance of Indians. However, soon after Pitroda’s comments grabbed attention, the BJP accused the grand old party of having a “dangerous and divisive mindset”.

Following Pitroda’s statement, Chief Ministers from BJP-ruled states in the Northeast — Assam and Manipur — attacked the Congress leader and demanded an apology from the Congress.

Highlighting how India has developed itself as a shining example of democracy in the world, Sam Pitroda remarked on the appearance of Indians coming from different states.

“We could hold together a country as diverse as India — where people on the East look like Chinese, people on the West look like Arabs, people on the North look like maybe Whites and people in South India look like Africans. It doesn’t matter. We are all brothers and sisters,” said Pitroda, during an interview with The Statesman.

Manipur, Assam CMs Demand Apology From Congress

Hitting back at Sam Pitroda for his comments on the appearance of northeastern, Manipur CM N Biren Singh demanded an apology from the Congress party.  He said that Congress has a “hidden agenda to divide India on religious grounds” and blamed the opposition party for the situation in the state, where over 100 people were killed and thousands left homeless in the violence since May last year.

“Very unfortunate and utter nonsense. We all live together in India. We are all Indians. I feel very sad and condemn this kind of comment by Congress. They should apologise to Indians. The Northeast is India’s inseparable part,” he stated.

Attacking the Congress leader for his comments, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma took to X and wrote, “Sam bhai (Brother), 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. Hamare desh ke bare mein thoda to samajh lo!”

Congress Disassociates Itself From Pitroda’s Comment

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh disassociated the party from Pitroda’s comments after receiving major backlash from the saffron camp and termed the remarks of its member as “most unfortunate and unacceptable”.

BJP Hits Back At Congress For ‘Divisive Mindset’

Reacting to Sam Pitroda’s remark, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, who is an MP from Arunachal Pradesh, said, “I am not surprised, but I am very angry. This is not a personal opinion of Sam Pitroda. Congress takes all ideas from him, so Congress should not come out and say this is his personal comment. Rahul Gandhi and Pitroda had foreign thinking, they want to end our culture.”

Nagaland Minister Temjen Imna told CNN-News18, “This is always the fault of the Congress party. They speak without knowing the heritage of the Northeast. They should be punished. They should come here, and live with us. See how BJP has understood us so well.”

BJP leader Tejasvi Surya also took a jibe at the Congress terming it “the OG breaking India party” following the racist remarks of its leader. “This commentary is no different from what Churchill had said about us. No wonder RG is the way he is after being mentored by him!” he added.

Terming Pitroda ‘Shakuni of the Congress party’, BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan Sam attacked the grand old party and said that the racist remark of the Indian Overseas Congress chief has exposed the party’s “dangerous and divisive mindset”.

Reacting to Sam Pitroda’s remark, the BJP leader while talking to CNN-News18 said, “The comments of the Indian Overseas Congress head in his recent interview is the biggest slur ever that anyone has ever made about Indians.”

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