Who Is Sam Pitroda? Congress' Long-Standing Figure & Controversy’s Favourite Child

Sam Pitroda has hit the headlines quite a few times now. As the dust settles on this latest remark row, here’s a look at the profile of Sam Pitroda and his tryst with controversies.

File photo Sam Pitroda

Source : Getty Images

Amidst the cacophony of political discourse, one name has consistently courted controversy: Sam Pitroda. After sparking outrage with his “racially” insensitive remarks, Pitroda resigned on Wednesday from his position as the Indian Overseas Congress (IOC) chairman. His recent remarks stirred a storm of criticism. 

In an interview with The Statesman, Pitroda remarked, “We could hold together the country as diverse as Inda, where people on East look like Chinese, people on West look like Arab, people on North look like maybe white and people in the South look like Africa”. 

The remark was widely condemned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today in his rallies in Southern India. The BJP, too, did not leave a stone unturned in criticism of Pitroda’s remark. 

This is not the first time Pitroda has landed himself in trouble for his remarks, earlier last month, he had stirred a political row with his “US has inheritance tax” remark, which caused Congress party enough damage to distance itself from his “personal opinion”. 

Pitroda has hit the headlines quite a few times now. As the dust settles on this latest remark row, here’s a look at the profile of Sam Pitroda and his tryst with controversies.

READ | Sam Pitroda Resigns As Chairman Of Indian Overseas Congress Amid Row Over His 'Racist' Remark

Who Is Sam Pitroda? A Long-Standing Figure In Congress Circles

Pitroda, known for his controversial remarks on sensitive topics, has been a top figure within the Congress party for years, He has been referred to as Rahul Gandhi’s “mentor,” and played a crucial role in crafting the party’s manifesto and political strategies for years. 

As the chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress, his responsibility was to bolster the party’s global presence and enhance Gandhi’s image internationally. 

His tenure has been marred by several controversies. In the lead-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, he faced backlash for his remarks on the 1984 anti-sikh rights, where he appeared to downplay the severity of the violence. 

“Ab kya hai ‘84 ka? Aapne kya kiya 5 saal mein, uski baat kariye. ‘84 mein hua to hua. Aapne kya kiya?” Pitroda had said, he was slammed by the saffron camp and the PM himself for this remark. 

His comments questioning the focus on Ram Mandir construction in the country, were also criticised. “When the entire nation is hung up on Ram Temple and Ram Janmabhoomi, it bothers me…To me, religion is something very personal, and national issues are education, employment, growth, the economy, inflation, health, the environment, and pollution. But no one speaks about it,” he had made the remark during an event in the US.