Sam Pitroda Clarifies: His Perspective, Not Congress’s, On Jairam Ramesh’s “Assurance”
28.06.2024: In a recent interview with NDTV, Sam Pitroda, the Congress’s overseas unit chief, addressed comments made by the party’s communication in-charge, Jairam Ramesh. Pitroda emphasized that Ramesh’s views were personal and not necessarily reflective of the Congress party.
Pitroda’s Stand
“What Jairam says is Jairam’s view, it is not necessarily the party’s view. It is okay for Jairam to say that and I respect it. I have to do what I have to do. In the process, I am entitled to make mistakes,” stated Pitroda.
Pitroda had stepped down from his position on May 8 following controversial comments. However, he was reinstated recently. The reinstatement was accompanied by Ramesh’s statement that Pitroda had given an assurance to avoid future controversies.
Party’s Official Communication
Ramesh tweeted about Pitroda’s reappointment, mentioning that Pitroda clarified the context of his previous statements and assured that he would prevent similar issues in the future. He wrote, “During the recent election campaign, Sam Pitroda made some statements that were unacceptable to the Indian National Congress. By mutual consent, he stepped down as Chairman of Overseas Indian Congress.”
Controversial Remarks
Pitroda’s earlier comments had sparked significant backlash. He described India as a diverse country, noting, “People in the East look like the Chinese, people in the West look like Arabs, people in the North look like maybe White and people in the South look like Africans.” This statement was criticized for its perceived racism and colonial mindset.
Additionally, Pitroda had previously suggested discussing inheritance tax policies similar to those in the US to prevent wealth concentration, which drew criticism from the BJP.
Pitroda’s Commitment
Despite these controversies, Pitroda reiterated his commitment to the Congress party. “I am grown up. I know my responsibility for my party. I am committed to Congress. I have been a congressman from Day One and I will remain a Congressman till I die… It has nothing to do with what I say… but my commitment to values. I believe in the Congress ideology,” he affirmed.