After Inheritance Tax, Sam Pitroda Fuels another Controversy over “Colour of Skin” of Indians

Manas Dasgupta

NEW DELHI, May 8: The overseas Congress leader Sam Pitroda’s controversial remarks over the colour of skin of the Indians in different parts of the country, provided some ammunition to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to launch a scathing attack on the Congress.

Even though the Congress officially distanced itself from Mr Pitroda’s remarks, Mr Modi describing him as the “philosopher and guide” of the Congress “crown prince” Rahul Gandhi said the people of the country would not tolerate insults on the basis of the colour of the skin.

Addressing a series of election rallies in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday, Mr Modi Demanded an explanation from the “crown prince” for his “uncle” hurling insults at the Indians. Mr Modi said, “Shahzade, you will have to answer. The country will not tolerate the disrespect of our countrymen on the basis of the colour of skin. Modi will definitely not tolerate it.” He also said he was seething in anger ever since he heard about Mr Pitroda’s insulting comments on the people of India.

Doubling down, the Prime Minister said he now knows why the Congress opposed the BJP’s choice of Droupadi Murmu for the President’s post. “I used to wonder why the Congress opposed Droupadi Murmu’s candidature in the presidential election, but I could not understand. But now I know why they tried to defeat Droupadi Murmu, an adivasi. An uncle of the shahzade stays in the US. He is his philosopher and guide. He has said those who have dark skin are from Africa. Now I have understood, they also thought Droupadi Murmu is African. They thought her skin is dark, so she must be defeated,” the Prime Minister said.

On his X handle, the Prime Minister said he was “absolutely disgusted by the remarks of the senior Congress leader, who is the friend, philosopher and guide of the Congress’ Crown Prince”. “His remarks are racist and in very poor taste,” the Prime Minister tweeted.

Mr Pitroda, whose remark on an inheritance tax in the US last month left the Congress red-faced in the election season, came up with a new howler while he was trying to make a pitch for national unity despite India’s diversity. In an interview, Mr Pitroda described India as a “… diverse 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.”

Pushed into firefight mode, the Congress distanced itself from its senior leader’s remark. “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,” senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X. As videos of Mr Pitroda’s remarks started doing the rounds on social media, the Prime Minister launched an all-out attack on the Congress.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also lashed out at Mr Pitroda for his ‘racist’ remark, saying it revealed the mindset and attitude of Rahul Gandhi’s mentor. In a post on X, Ms Sitharaman retorted saying, “I am from South India. I look Indian! My team has enthusiastic members from north east India. They look Indian! My colleagues from west India look Indian! “But, for the racist who is the mentor of @RahulGandhi we all look African, Chinese, Arab and the White! Thanks for revealing your mindset and your attitude. I.N.D.I alliance’s shame!”

Mr Pitroda’s remarks also gave Mr Modi an opportunity to attempt to drive a wedge amidst the INDIA bloc partners, the Congress and the DMK with the Prime Minister daring the Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin “to cut ties with the Congress.”

The Prime Minister questioned, “The leaders of the Congress have divisive thoughts. The Congress mindset is to see the country in pieces. This is why the Congress leaders refuse to consider it one country and talk of division,” PM Modi said at a rally in Rajampet.

“Today another leader gave proof of it,” he said, recounting Mr Pitroda’s comment.

“They (the Congress) think people of northeast look like Chinese, South Indians look like Africans. i want to ask — will the people accept comments like this? i want to ask Siddaramaiah — is this ok? I want to ask then Telangana Chief Minister if he would accept. The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, who talks of Tamil culture. Will DMK have the courage to cut ties with the Congress for the sake of Tamil culture and heritage?” PM Modi said.

The DMK response was nuanced. While Mr Pitroda’s comment was unacceptable, he was not altogether wrong.  “Sam Pitroda’s stereotyping comments are unacceptable. But his core concept on diversity isn’t wrong. We are from different ethnic groups united to form India is a fact.” said DMK spokesman Dr SAS Hafeezullah.

Responding to the Prime Minister’s remarks, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, “When the Prime Minister plays a full toss, he brings up pointless subjects like these. I am challenging him to hit a full toss on employment, corruption and atrocities against women and the fact that you are protecting those who commit such atrocities.”