'I am from South India, I look Indian...': Sitharaman on Sam Pitroda's remark 'people in South look like Africans'

Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman

Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday took a dig at the Congress over its leader Sam Pitroda's remark that “people in the North look like maybe White and people in South look like Africans”.

“I am from south India. I look Indian! My team has enthusiastic members from north east India. They look Indian! My colleagues from west India look Indian! But, for the racist who is the mentor of @RahulGandhi we all look African, Chinese, Arab and the White! Thanks for revealing your mindset and your attitude. I.N.D.I alliance’s shame,” Sitharaman posted on X.

I am from South India. I look Indian! My team has enthusiastic members from north east India. They look Indian! My colleagues from west India look Indian!
But, for the racist who is the mentor of @RahulGandhi we all look African, Chinese, Arab and the White! Thanks for… pic.twitter.com/UzXi4ndwhk

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— Nirmala Sitharaman (Modi Ka Parivar) (@nsitharaman) May 8, 2024

In an interview with The Statesman, Pitroda, while discussing India's status as a democratic example, said the country's people "survived 75 years in a very happy environment where people could live together leaving a few fights here and there".

"We could hold together a country as diverse as India -- 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 Africans. It doesn't matter. We are all brothers and sisters," the Indian Overseas Congress chief told The Statesman.

Meanwhile, the Congress distanced itself from Pitroda's remarks. Congress communications in-charge Jairam Ramesh posted on X, "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."

A few weeks earlier, Pitroda was on the receiving end over his comments regarding the US inheritance tax.  “In America, there is an inheritance tax. If one has $100 million worth of wealth and when he dies, he can only transfer probably 45% to his children and 55% goes to the government. That’s an interesting law," he had said.

His remarks drew sharp criticism from the BJP, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "This is Congress ki loot...While you are alive, they want to survey your personal wealth, property, houses, shops, and land, and give it away to secure their vote bank. And when you die, they want to deprive you of the right to leave your assets behind to future generations as well,” Modi had said.