The Congress distanced itself from the remarks saying that it did not represent the views of the grand old party.
Sam Pitroda. (X)
Weeks after his comments on wealth redistribution created a nationwide controversy, Congress’ Sam Pitroda ignited another after describing Indians on the basis of racist stereotypes.
He made the remarks while speaking about the survival of democracy in India during an interview with The Statesman on 4 May.
“We are a shining example of democracy in the world…we could hold the country together as diverse as India where people in the East look like Chinese, people in the West look like Arab, people in the North look like maybe white and people in the South look like African. It doesn’t matter. We are all brothers and sisters,” Pitroda said.
“We all respect different languages, different religions, customs and food. That’s the India I believe in, where everybody has a place and everybody compromises a little bit,” he added.
The statements reinforced problematic stereotyping of physical and facial features, skin colour, physiological attributes of Indians from different parts of the country. Indians, especially from North Eastern and Southern states have consistently been victims of racist slurs, tropes akin to the comparison Pitroda drew in his remarks.
Meanwhile, the Congress distanced itself from the remarks saying that it did not represent the views of the grand old party.
“The analogies drawn by Mr. Sam Pitroda in a podcast to illustrate India’s diversity are most unfortunate and unacceptable. The Indian National Congress completely dissociates itself from these analogies,” said Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh.
The analogies drawn by Mr. Sam Pitroda in a podcast to illustrate India's diversity are most unfortunate and unacceptable. The Indian National Congress completely dissociates itself from these analogies.
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) May 8, 2024
The comments of Pitroda drew a sharp reaction from the BJP with its national spokesperson CR Kesavan demanding the Congress expel him from the party.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi termed the remarks as inaccurate and divisive.
“Statement given by Mr. Sam Pitroda, close aide of Mr. Rahul Gandhi oversimplifies and perpetuates stereotypes about India’s diverse population. It reduces people to physical appearances based on regional stereotypes, which is inaccurate and divisive,” he said in a post on X.
“It ignores the rich cultural, linguistic, and ethnic diversity that unites India as a nation. India’s strength lies in celebrating and embracing this diversity, not in reducing it to superficial physical characteristics,” he added.
Statement given by Mr. Sam Pitroda, close aide of Mr. Rahul Gandhi oversimplifies and perpetuates stereotypes about India's diverse population. It reduces people to physical appearances based on regional stereotypes, which is inaccurate and divisive. It ignores the rich cultural,… pic.twitter.com/mweBHoISTJ
— Pralhad Joshi (Modi Ka Parivar) (@JoshiPralhad) May 8, 2024
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma asked Pitroda to have an understanding of India.
“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. Hamare desh ke bare mein thoda to samajh lo! (Please try to understand a bit about our nation),” he said on X.
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.
Hamare desh ke bare mein thoda to samajh lo! https://t.co/eXairi0n1n
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (Modi Ka Parivar) (@himantabiswa) May 8, 2024
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil)
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![[Left] File photo of BJP MLA Harish Poonja, who has been booked, and [right] Poonja sitting for a protest in front of Belthangady Police Station in the early hours of Sunday, 19 May, 2024.](https://s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media.thesouthfirst.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Harish-Poonja-and-Belthangady.jpg "Harish Poonja and Belthangady")
