ADVERTISEMENT
I was not sacked: Sam Pitroda after being reappointed chairman of Indian Overseas Congress
The engineer-entrepreneur had quit from this key post in May after a row over his controversial remarks.
Sam Pitroda is known for his role in revolutionizing the telecommunications industry in India. / X/@sampitroda
In a turn of events, engineer and entrepreneur Sam Pitroda, who made headlines in May this year for controversial remarks, has been reinstated as the head of the Indian Overseas Congress.
A letter signed by Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal has reappointed Pitroda “with immediate effect” on June.26.
— Indian Overseas Congress (@INCOverseas) June 26, 2024
Pitroda had resigned from his position on May.8 following backlash over comments in which he likened South Indians to Africans.
Pitroda’s comments, quoted by The Statesman, were: “We could hold together a country as diverse as India — where people on the East look like Chinese, people on the West look like Arabs, people on the North look like maybe Whites and people in South India look like Africans. It doesn’t matter. We are all brothers and sisters.”
The remarks sparked strong opposition from various political leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi of the BJP, prompting Pitroda's resignation.
After his reappointment, however, Pitroda in an interview with India Today on June.26 clarified that he “was not sacked”.
“The remarks were not racist, it is the racists who thought it was racist,” he added.
I was not sacked. I stepped down willingly....The remarks were not racist. It is the racist people who thought it was racist…#NewsToday with @sardesairajdeephttps://t.co/Bf37ko0jMK
— Sam Pitroda (@sampitroda) June 26, 2024
Pitroda expressed gratitude to Rahul Gandhi and other leaders of the Indian Overseas Congress.
Regarding his reinstatement, Pitroda said, "I believe there is an opportunity here to take the Indian message global. Indian message is all about democracy, constitution, inclusion, employment."
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
E Paper
.jpg)
Comments
Start the conversation
Become a member of New India Abroad to start commenting.
Sign Up Now
Already have an account? Login