Guwahati, May 8: Sam Pitroda, the chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress, has stirred up a controversy with his recent remarks about India’s diversity. In an interview with The Statesman earlier this month, Pitroda elaborated on the country’s diversity when he stated, “People in the eastern part of India look like the Chinese.”

Pitroda’s comments came as part of a larger discussion on the different perspectives held by various groups in India. He said, “We have survived 70-75 years in a very happy environment where people could live together, leaving aside a few fights here and there. 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 Africans. It doesn’t matter. We are all brothers and sisters.”

The remarks have since gone viral on social media, with many users expressing disappointment and anger towards Pitroda’s characterization of India’s diversity.

"We could hold together a country as diverse as India, 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" 💀💀

(VC : @TheStatesmanLtd) pic.twitter.com/aPQUyJflag

— Darshan Pathak (@darshanpathak) May 8, 2024

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has wasted no time in seizing upon Pitroda’s remarks, labeling them as “racist and divisive.” Several prominent BJP leaders, including Himanta Biswa Sarma and Ravi Shankar Prasad, have openly criticized the Congress leader for his statements.

Himanta Biswa Sarma, a BJP leader from the North East, took to Twitter to express his disagreement with Pitroda’s comments. He wrote, “Sam brother, I am from the North East and look like an Indian. We are a diverse country – we may look different, but we are all one. Please learn something about our country.”

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

This latest controversy follows another incident last month when Pitroda sparked a heated debate when he discussed the concept of an inheritance tax levied in the United States.
How the Congress party will respond and whether Pitroda will issue a clarification or apology for his statements remains to be seen.

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