Looking to play up the diversity of India, Pitroda created a controversy by describing people's looks in a questionable manner.
File photo of Sam Pitroda. (Supplied)
Techie and entrepreneur-turned-politician Sam Pitroda on Wednesday, 8 May, stepped down as the head of the overseas unit of Congress.
The move followed the controversies that his recent remarks on several topics sparked across the country.
Congress’ general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh took to X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday and confirmed that Pitroda had stepped down as the chairperson of Indian Overseas Congress.
He added that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had accepted his decision.
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
Over the years, Pitroda has raked up quite a few controversies with his remarks, which highlighted views that were often contrary to conventional wisdom or the Indian mindset.
However, his most recent remark — on the appearances of people in different parts of India — were deemed insensitive and racist.
The remarks came during Pitroda’s exclusive interview with a reputed daily. In it, he was looking to assert the ethnic diversity in India.
He said it was a country “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”.
Congress was quick to distance itself from the comparisons. Jairam Ramesh was heard saying in a video on X: “The analogies given by Sam Pitroda to India’s diversity are extremely wrong and unacceptable.”
He added: “The Indian National Congress completely disassociates itself from these analogies.”
It is the duty of every Congress member to be mindful when speaking to media whether it is election time or not. When each & every party member is toiling in the ground such utterances are uncalled for & absolutely insensitive. Sri @Jairam_Ramesh makes our @INCIndia party stand… pic.twitter.com/GHCnB1Y6QE
— Bobbeeta Sharma (@bobbeeta_sharma) May 8, 2024
This was the second controversy Pitroda was embroiled in in as many months. Last month, his comments on inheritance tax to redistribute wealth across the country spared a row.
He claimed the US had a similar system. The US does not have an inheritance tax at the federal level, and only a handful of states implement it.
Even then, at least one state is about to repeal it next year, and immediate family members are exempt from it in all the states that have it.
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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")
