Sam Pitroda resigns as Indian Overseas Congress chairman after controversy over racist remark

Sam Pitroda resigned as Chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress "of his own accord" on Wednesday, following a number of controversial statements. Mallikarjun Kharge, the party's president, accepted his resignation, according to Jairam Ramesh, the Congress General Secretary in Charge of Communications.

“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,” Ramesh wrote on X.

Pitroda’s resignation comes hours after a fresh controversy over his remarks in an interview with The Statesman, wherein he sought to describe the diversity in India by saying that “people in the East look Chinese, people in West look like Arab, people on North like, maybe, White, and people in the South look like African.”

Congress distanced itself from his remarks and party leader Jairam Ramesh said, "The analogies given by Sam Pitroda to India's diversity are extremely wrong and unacceptable. The Indian National Congress completely disassociates itself from these analogies." 

Pitroda's remarks were received with brutal criticism from the opposition. PM Modi demanded answers from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and said, "Shehzade (Rahul Gandhi), you will have to answer. The country will not tolerate the disrespect of our countrymen on the basis of the colour of their skin. Modi will definitely not tolerate it."

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma posted on X, "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."

"Sam Pitroda is Rahul Gandhi's mentor. Listen to his racist and divisive jibes for Indians. Their whole ideology is about divide and rule. It's sickening to call fellow Indians Chinese and African. Shame on Congress!" Kangana Ranaut, BJP candidate from Mandi said.

Last month, Sam Pitroda's comment saying inheritance tax in the US was “an interesting law and could be among issues that people in India debate and discuss” had also created a controversy leading to embarassment for the Congress party. 

Also read: Sam Pitroda's inheritance law remark puts Congress on political defence. Here's what THIS tax means

The remark had invited criticism from Prime Minister Narendra Modi who said, "The adviser to the royal family prince, and adviser to the father of the prince, has said more taxes should be imposed on the middle class. Now these people have gone a step further. The Congress now says it will impose an inheritance tax. That it will impose a tax on the inheritance received from parents. The property you have accumulated through your hard work will not be given to your children. The Congress claws will snatch that too from you.” 

(With inputs from agencies)