The Congress party has reappointed Sam Pitroda as the chairperson of its overseas unit, just two months after his resignation following controversial remarks on India’s diversity. This reinstatement was announced by Congress General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal and reflects a significant decision by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge. Despite being a veteran technocrat and close associate of the Gandhi family, Pitroda has been at the center of numerous controversies. However, his expertise and influence appear crucial to the Congress’s strategy.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi commented on Pitroda’s reinstatement, stating, “Today I found out why the Congress was trying so hard to defeat Droupadi Murmu, daughter of a tribal. Today I got to know that Shehzade’s [Rahul Gandhi] uncle lives in America and that this uncle is his philosophical guide who has exposed his secret. He has said that those who have black skin are from Africa. This means that you are abusing several people of the country on the basis of their skin color.”
Pitroda is no stranger to controversies. Ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, he faced significant backlash for suggesting that the middle class should pay more taxes to ensure a minimum income for poor households, urging them not to be ‘selfish’. This statement created turmoil within the party, prompting senior Congress leader P Chidambaram to clarify that there would be no additional tax burden on the middle class if Congress returned to power.