Sam Pitroda returns to key Congress post, says quit as 'PM was twisting facts'
Speaking exclusively to India Today TV after he was reinstated as Chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress, Sam Pitroda said he quit the post as Prime Minister Narendra Modi started twisting his statements.
In Short
- Congress reinstates Sam Pitroda as Indian Overseas Congress Chairman
- Pitroda resigned after controversial remarks during elections
- Pitroda claims he quit to avoid further discussion
The Congress on Wednesday reinstated veteran leader Sam Pitroda as Chairman of Indian Overseas Congress, a month after he resigned from the post following his controversial remarks. Speaking exclusively to India Today TV, Sam Pitroda said he quit the post as Prime Minister Narendra Modi started twisting his statement for political gain.
On May 8, when the Lok Sabha elections were underway, Sam Pitroda stepped down from the post of Chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress after furore over his controversial remark that Indians in the East resemble the Chinese while those in the South look like Africans. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh had announced that Pitroda decided to resign from the post "of his own accord".
Pitroda told India Today TV that he quit the post as he wanted to take himself out of discussion.
"The Prime Minister started twisting facts. He started talking about Sam Pitroda. There was no need for him to get involved in what Sam Pitroda said," the Congress leader said.
"When the Prime Minister decides to troll you, the nation joins him," he added.
Pitroda also did not blame the Congress for removing him from the post. "We could have differences in party. Jairam (Ramesh) may think differently but that doesn't make him right. That's perfectly acceptable," he said.
Sam Pitroda also defended his remarks, saying they were not racist. "Maybe the comparison was not that great. I am a human being and allowed to make mistake. Talk to me, clarify with me about what I said. But don't run like a wild fire," he said.