Rajat Sharma, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of India TV.
Sitting in America, Rahul’s political guru, Indian Overseas Congress President Sam Pitroda, made racist comments during a podcast about the appearance and skin color of Indians. Sam Pitroda was discussing the current situation in India. Meanwhile, Sam got carried away and said that the people of North East look like Chinese, the people of South India look like Africans while the Indians living in West India look like Arabs. However, later Sam Pitroda tried to handle the matter, he said that this is the specialty of India, diversity is the specialty of India, everyone looks different but there is brotherhood. But ‘Uncle Sam’ said a lot even while saying no.
When Sam did this podcast, it was night falling in America and the sun was rising in India. Sam went to sleep after giving his statement but here an uproar started over his statement. It became difficult for Congress to answer. In Telangana rally, Modi attacked Rahul Gandhi on the pretext of ‘Sam Uncle’. Modi said that the prince’s uncle has insulted the people of the country in the name of skin colour, has abused the people, the country will not tolerate this insult.
Sam Pitroda had given the idea of inheritance tax two weeks ago, talked about inheritance tax. At that time, Congress leaders had given equivocal talks, but today when Sam classified Indians on the basis of their colour, Modi made Sam Pitroda’s statement an issue. Congress came into defensive mode. Congress leaders clearly said that the party has nothing to do with Sam Pitroda’s statement. Rahul Gandhi’s political advisor Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said that Congress rejects Sam Pitroda’s statement, Congress has nothing to do with this statement.
What Sam Pitroda said is quite serious. I am surprised that he grew up and grew up in America, yet he says such light things. Deciding someone’s identity on the basis of appearance is a bad idea. Calling someone African and someone Chinese on the basis of appearance is an insult to India’s heritage. But the thing to think about is why does Sam Pitroda repeatedly say such things which become a problem for Congress? He had said about the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, “What happened is what happened”… Then Sam had said corruption is a way of life. Then he said terrorism keeps happening, what is the big deal?
Sam Pitroda is an advisor to Rahul Gandhi. He plans all the overseas tours and lectures of Rahul Gandhi. A gentleman who knew the Gandhi family closely was saying that Sam used to teach Rahul Gandhi, he is his guru. Perhaps that is why Congress could not take any action against him despite committing repeated mistakes. But today when Modi made his statement an issue, it had a deep impact. Sam Pitroda has been dismissed. He had to resign from the post of President of the Indian Overseas Congress and the resignation was immediately accepted. But this time mere resignation will not suffice because this time “Uncle Sam” has raised questions on the race of Indians and hurt their self-respect, hence this issue will trouble Congress during the elections. (Rajat Sharma)
Watch: ‘Aaj Ki Baat, Rajat Sharma Sath’ full episode of May 08, 2024
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