Congress must apologise for Pitroda’s remarks: CM Yogi

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday attacked the Congress over its leader Sam Pitroda’s remarks regarding race and ethnicity, terming them ‘reprehensible’ and demanding an apology from the party.

Speaking to reporters at his official residence before departing for election rallies, Yogi said: “Sam Pitroda, the advisor and guide of the Congress leadership, espouses the party’s historical divide-andrule tactic.” “The Congress is sowing seeds of division based on colour and ethnicity. It was responsible for the Partition of the country in 1947. Even after independence, the party committed the sin of dividing the country along caste, regional and linguistic lines. The Congress must apologise to the nation for Pitroda’s comments,” Yogi said.

He also warned against attempts to fragment India along geographic lines, citing a dangerous conspiracy by the Congress. Adityanath condemned the statement, describing it as an affront to the unity of India’s 1.4 billion citizens. “Pitroda must refrain from making such comments on Ram temple. Lord Ram symbolises unity, cultural integrity and the values of compassion and development for all. The construction of Ram temple is a matter of immense pride for India, reflecting its cultural ethos and national unity.” “Humanity’s supporters worldwide, including followers of Sanatan Dharma, are jubilant about the construction of the Ram temple,” he added.

In a podcast, Pitroda had said, “We have survived 75 years in a very happy environment where people could live together, leaving aside a few fights here and there. We could hold a country as diverse as India together. Where people in the east look like the Chinese, people in the west look like the Arabs, people in the north look like, maybe, white and people in the south look like Africa (sic).” Earlier , Pitroda was quoted in reports as saying that it bothers him that the entire nation is hung up on Ram temple.