Chairman of Indian Overseas Congress Sam Pitroda has once again sparked a row as he reflected upon the diversity of India. Speaking about how India is a shining example of democracy in the world, Pitroda said that the people of the country have "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 Africa. It doesn't matter. We are all brothers and sisters," said Pitroda, during an interview with The Statesman posted on May 2.
He further added that the people of India respect different languages, religion, food and customs which varies from region to region. "That's the India that I believe in, where everybody has a place and everybody compromises little bit," he said.
Pitroda further stated that the idea of India which is rooted in democracy, freedom, liberty, fraternity is being challenged today by "Ram temple", "Ram navami", as well as with Prime Minister Narendra Modi going to temple all the time and talking not as a national leader but as a leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The clip of the interview featuring Pitroda is being shared widely across social media platforms. Reacting to his remarks, BJP national spokesperson CR Kesavan said, "The Shakuni of the Congress, Sam Pitroda exposes their dangerous and divisive mindset."
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, meanwhile, stated, "Sam bhai, I am from the North East and I look like an Indian. We are a diverse country - we may look different but we are all one. Hamare desh ke bare mein thoda to samajh lo!"
A few days back, Pitroda faced massive backlash after he termed inheritance tax an "interesting idea".
Backing the idea of wealth re-distribution, Pitroda had earlier said India should benefit from the wealth of the super rich. "...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 per cent to his children, 55 per cent is grabbed by the government. That's an interesting law. It says you in your generation, made wealth and you are leaving now, you must leave your wealth for the public, not all of it, half of it, which to me sounds fair,” Pitroda stated.
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