‘People from East look like Chinese’: Remarks by Sam Pitroda draw ire from both Congress, BJP

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Senior Congress leader Sam Pitroda has once again sparked controversy with remarks that describe India’s diversity in a manner that has been widely criticized as inappropriate and unacceptable.

In an exclusive interview with The Statesman, Sam Pitroda characterised India as a country where people from different regions resemble various ethnicities, stating, “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.”

This statement by Sam Pitroda drew swift condemnation from within his own party, with senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh emphasising that the party completely disassociates itself from Pitroda’s analogies about India’s diversity, deeming them “extremely wrong and unacceptable.”

The backlash extended beyond the Congress, as senior BJP leaders, including Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, took to social media to voice their criticism.

Also Read: Congress distances itself from Sam Pitroda’s remarks

Singh expressed, “Sam bhai, I am from the northeast, and I look like an Indian. We are a diverse country – we may look different, but we are all one.”

Similarly, actor-politician Kangana Ranaut, a BJP candidate for Lok Sabha from Mandi in Himachal Pradesh, condemned the comments by Sam Pitroda as “racist” and “divisive,” while accusing the Congress of pursuing a divide-and-rule ideology.

Other BJP leaders echoed these sentiments, with Shehzad Poonawalla labelling the remarks by Sam Pitroda as “shocking, despicable, and disgusting,” and linking them to what he described as the broader divisive ideology of Rahul Gandhi, referring to Sam Pitroda as Gandhi’s mentor.

The controversial remarks by Sam Pitroda came amid a broader political context where the Congress and BJP have been engaged in heated exchanges over various issues leading up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Sam Pitroda referenced the contrasting visions of India’s future, highlighting the BJP’s focus on issues like the Ram Temple and religious symbolism versus the Congress’s commitment to a secular and diverse ethos rooted in democracy and pluralism.

This latest controversy involving Sam Pitroda follows earlier disputes between the Congress and BJP, notably triggered by remarks regarding inheritance tax and broader economic policies. The political atmosphere remains charged as both parties engage in intense exchanges ahead of the upcoming elections.

Pitroda’s comments, seen as ill-advised and divisive by many, underscore the challenges of navigating sensitive issues around diversity and national identity within India’s political landscape. The fallout from his statements reflects ongoing tensions between the country’s major political parties as they vie for public support and grapple with complex societal issues.