Sam Pitroda Reappointed Indian Overseas Congress Chairman

New Delhi: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday reinstated Sam Pitroda as the chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress. This decision comes days after Pitroda resigned from the role following controversial remarks made during the Lok Sabha elections, which the BJP labelled as “racist.”

K.C. Venugopal, AICC General Secretary, confirmed Pitroda’s reappointment in a statement.

Pitroda, known for his close association with Rahul Gandhi, had stepped down on May 8.

Pitroda’s controversial comments, made during a podcast, referenced various ethnic and racial identities, sparking significant backlash. He described Indians from different regions with terms like Chinese, Africans, Arabs, and Whites, which led to severe criticism from the BJP, who turned his remarks into a major campaign issue.

Additionally, Pitroda’s earlier reference to inheritance tax in the US during discussions on Congress’s Lok Sabha poll manifesto had given the BJP more ammunition, accusing the opposition of targeting citizens’ assets under a wealth redistribution policy.

Pitroda has a history of controversial comments, including his “hua to hua” (so what) remark about the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and his “it happens all the time” response to the 2019 Pulwama terror attack, both of which stirred significant controversy during previous election periods.