As Congress overseas chairman Sam Pitroda steps down over racial analogy, “I look Indian” trends on social media

Congress overseas chairman Sam Pitroda on Wednesday stepped down from his place after making a political firestorm over his racial analogy to categorise Indians from its numerous areas, at the same time as “I look Indian” posts slamming the veteran chief overwhelmed the social media platforms.

With the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) concentrating on the Congress over Pitroda’s remarks, the announcement concerning the latter’s resignation was made by celebration’s communications-in-charge Jairam Ramesh on X.

“Mr. Sam Pitroda has determined to step down as Chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress of his personal accord. The Congress President has accepted his resolution,” the put up learn.

Days after triggering a row together with his inheritance comment, Sam Pitroda has categorized Indians and their seems to be regionally inviting jibes from the BJP within the election season.

In an interview to The Statesman, Pitroda stated, “… numerous nation… the place individuals on East look like Chinese, individuals on West look like Arab, individuals on North look like perhaps White and other people in South look like Africa.”

His feedback sparked a wave of reactions with the BJP leaders, together with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, attacking his Congress rival Rahul Gandhi, saying the nation “received’t tolerate disrespect primarily based on the color of pores and skin”.

Across social media platforms like Facebook and X, opposition leaders and netizens at giant are posting their photos captioning “I look like Indian” a lot to the embarrassment of the Congress.

Senior journalist Aditya Raj Kaul posted on X: “I’m from Kashmir. I look like an Indian. Never in my life would I need to be known as a white. Stop this racist ideology of hate. We are proud Indians. No matter the place we come from within the nation. Your myopic considering is the rationale India rejects you all the time.”

Kannada actress Pranitha Subhash wrote on her X deal with: “I’m a South Indian ! And I look Indian #SamPitroda.”

Modi assaults DMK over Pitroda comment

Following Sam Pitroda’s feedback ‘individuals in south look like Africans’, PM Modi dared DMK chief MK Stalin to chop ties with its ally Congress.

Will MK Stalin “dare to chop ties with the Congress,” the Prime Minister questioned.

“They (the Congress) assume individuals of northeast look like Chinese, South Indians look like Africans. I need to ask — will the individuals settle for feedback like this? I need to ask Siddaramaiah — is that this okay? I need to ask the Telangana Chief Minister if he would settle for,” he stated.

Modi stated the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu talks of Tamil tradition however will the DMK have the braveness to chop ties with the Congress for the sake of Tamil tradition and heritage.

“The leaders of the Congress have divisive ideas. The Congress mindset is to see the nation in items. This is why the Congress leaders refuse to think about it one nation and speak of division,” PM Modi stated.

The DMK, nonetheless, responded in a nuanced language. While Pitroda’s remark was “unacceptable”, he was not altogether improper, it stated. “PM Modi was silent when a BJP MP made comparable statements prior to now,” the DMK stated.

DMK spokesperson Dr SAS Hafeezullah stated: “Sam Pitroda’s stereotyping feedback are unacceptable. But his core idea of variety isn’t improper… That we’re from totally different ethnic teams that united to type India is a truth. Sam Pitroda is no person within the India [INDIA] alliance, and received’t impression India Alliance’s prospects.”

The Congress had earlier distanced itself from Pitroda’s comment stating it doesn’t mirror the standpoint of the grand outdated celebration, which has been out of celebration for 10 years now.

Congress communications-in-charge Jairam Ramesh posted on X: “Mr Pitroda expresses his opinions freely on points he feels strongly about. Surely, in a democracy a person is at liberty to debate, categorical, and debate his private views.

“This doesn’t imply that Mr. Pitroda’s views all the time mirror the place of the Indian National Congress. Many occasions they don’t. Sensationalising his feedback now and tearing them out of context are deliberate and determined makes an attempt at diverting consideration away from Mr. Narenda Modi’s malicious and mischievous election marketing campaign; that’s anchored ONLY in lies and extra lies.”