Sam Pitroda Reacts To Jairam Ramesh's 'Assurance' Remark; Says He Is "entitled to make mistakes" (Photo @sampitroda)

Sam Pitroda, known for making contentious statements was reinstated as the Chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress on Thursday, after he was forced to resign on May 8 following his controversial comment during the election campaign. Commenting on Pitroda’s reinstatement, Congress general secretary in charge of communication Jairam Ramesh had said the former chief of the Indian Overseas Congress was reappointed after “assurance that he will not in future leave room for such controversies to arise.”

However, reacting to Jairam Ramesh’s assurance remark, Sam Pitroda today said that he has to do what he has to do, and in the process, he was entitled to make mistakes, adding what Jairam Ramesh said was his view, not the view of the Congress party.

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

“The Congress is not saying that. Jairam is saying that. 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,” NDTV quoted Pitroda as saying.

Pitroda had stepped down in May after his remark on the ethnic difference in India’s diversity created massive controversy during the Lok Sabha election campaigns. Pitroda had attributed the different physical appearance of India’s people to the racial identities of Chinese, Africans, Africans and Whites. The Indian Overseas Congress chief said those from the northeast appear like the Chinese, stating that it was his way of saying how diverse India is.  His comment on the US inheritance tax had also caused a row, with the ruling BJP attacking the Congress branding it “racist.”

Read Also: After Being Called Out On Old X Post Supporting Inheritance Tax, Amit Malviya Deletes It

Commenting on the reelection of Pitroda, the Congress leader, in an X post on June 26 called the controversial remark of Pitroda “unacceptable” to the party.

“During the recent election campaign, Sam Pitroda had made some statements and comments that were totally unacceptable to the Indian National Congress. By mutual consent, he stepped down as Chairman of Overseas Indian Congress. Subsequently he clarified the context in which statements were made and how they were later distorted by the Modi campaign. The Congress President has reappointed him on the assurance that he will not in future leave room for such controversies to arise,” Jairam Ramesh’s post reads.

During the recent election campaign Sam Pitroda had made some statements and comments that were totally unacceptable to the Indian National Congress. By mutual consent he stepped down as Chairman of Overseas Indian Congress. Subsequently he clarified the context in which…

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) June 26, 2024