After Series Of Screw-Ups Sam Pitroda Steps Down As Overseas Congress Chairman

Congress announced today that Sam Pitroda has decided to step down as Chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress of his own accord. Jairam Ramesh said in a statement that the Congress president has accepted Pitroda’s decision. Pitroda is known for his close association with the Gandhi family and serves as an advisor to Rahul Gandhi.

Sam Pitroda, whose comments on inheritance tax last month left the Congress red-faced, made the matters worse for his party when he called for national unity despite diversity in an exclusive interview with The Statesman today. Pitroda described India as a “… diverse country… where people on East look like Chinese, people on West look like Arab, people on North look like maybe White and people in South look like Africa”.

The Congress quickly distanced itself from its Pitroda’s remark. “The analogies drawn by Mr. Sam Pitroda in a podcast to illustrate India’s diversity are most unfortunate and unacceptable. The Indian National Congress completely dissociates itself from these analogies,” senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X.

In both instances, BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi jumped to attack Congress and INDIA alliance using the comments made by Pitroda.

PM Modi today demanded an explanation from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over Pitroda’s fresh gaffe, commenting that he “won’t tolerate disrespect on the basis of the colour of skin”.

“Shehzade, you will have to answer. The country will not tolerate the disrespect of our countrymen on the basis of the colour of skin. Modi will definitely not tolerate it,” PM Modi said today at a rally in Telangana’s Warangal.

Sam Pitroda, an Indian engineer, inventor, and entrepreneur who is best known for his contributions to the field of telecommunications and information technology. He gained prominence as an advisor to former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in the 1980s, where he played a key role in India’s telecom revolution and the introduction of computerization in government offices. Pitroda is often referred to as the “Father of the Indian Telecom Revolution” for his instrumental role in modernizing India’s telecommunications infrastructure.

Born in 1942 in Titilagarh, Odisha, Pitroda studied in the United States and later founded multiple companies, including Wescom Switching Inc., which developed digital switches for telephone exchanges. He also served as the chairman of India’s National Knowledge Commission from 2005 to 2009, focusing on policies for education, research, and innovation.

The Indian Overseas Congress (IOC) is a branch of the Indian National Congress party that operates outside India, primarily among the Indian diaspora. It serves as a platform for Indian citizens living abroad to engage with the Indian political process and support the policies and initiatives of the Congress party.