Congress leader Sam Pitroda created a big controversy by mentioning that Indians in eastern countries are similar to Chinese and those in southern India are like Africans. The Congress immediately distanced itself from Pithroda's remarks, terming them “unacceptable”.
In an interview with The Statesman, discussing India's status as a democratic model, Pitroda said, “The people of the country have survived 75 years in a very happy environment where people could live together, leaving behind a few quarrels here and there.”
We can hold together a country as diverse as India — people in the east look like Chinese, people in the west look like Arabs, people in the north look like whites, people in the south look like Africans. it does not matter. We are all brothers and sisters,” Pitroda said during the interview.
He added, “We all respect different languages, different religions, customs and food. That is the India I believe in, there is a place for everyone, everyone compromises a little.”
When Pithroda received criticism for his comments, Congress Communications In-Charge Jairam Ramesh told X, “The analogies drawn by Sam Pithroda in a podcast to portray the diversity of India are most unfortunate and unacceptable.
