Sam Pitroda steps down as Chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress over racist remark row
Sam Pitroda quits Congress : Sam Pitroda steps down as Chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress after massive row over his racist remarks. The Congress President has accepted his decision," says Congress leader Jairam Ramesh.
The Congress had earlier distanced itself from Pitroda's remarks.
"Mr. Sam Pitroda has decided to step down as Chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress of his own accord. The Congress President has accepted his decision," Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said on X.
Pitroda stirred a major controversy in the middle of Lok Sabha polls and BJP leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi seized on them to target the Congress.
श्री सैम पित्रोदा ने अपनी मर्ज़ी से इंडियन ओवरसीज कांग्रेस के अध्यक्ष पद से इस्तीफ़ा देने का फ़ैसला किया है। कांग्रेस अध्यक्ष ने उनका इस्तीफ़ा स्वीकार कर लिया है।
Mr. Sam Pitroda has decided to step down as Chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress of his own accord. The Congress… — Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) May 8, 2024
Pitroda said , "We have survived 75 years in a very happy environment where people could live together, leaving aside few fights here and there. We could hold a country together as diverse as India, where people on east look like Chinese, people on West look like Arab, people on North look like white and maybe people on South look like Africans."
He further added that the people of India respect different languages, religion, food and customs which varies from region to region. "That's the India that I believe in, where everybody has a place and everybody compromises little bit," he said.
Pitroda had earlier courted controversies with his remarks on sensitive issues. The most recent was when he advocated for an inheritance tax-like law in the country. However, the Congress officially distanced itself from Pitroda's comments, stating that they did not reflect the views of the party at all times.
- With inputs from agencies
