How do you solve a problem like Sam Pitroda? Gandhi aide lands Congress in another spot

SAM PITRODA is back with yet another embarrassing self-goal for the Congress, the second of this election period. As the BJP – right from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to its Chief Ministers in the Northeast – seized on his remarks and attacked the Congress, the leadership of the grand old party could just squirm and watch with dismay.

Party leaders say their hands are tied given the closeness of Pitroda, who heads the Indian Overseas Congress, to the Gandhi family, and Rahul Gandhi’s fondness for him. On Tuesday, even as the Congress disassociated itself from Pitroda’s remarks, calling the analogies drawn by him unfortunate and unacceptable, Rahul remained quiet while senior leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra sidestepped his remarks.

The latest controversy was stirred after a podcast came out with his remarks, while describing India’s diversity, saying here “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 Africans”. Pitroda added: “It does not matter. All of us are brothers and sisters.”

Asked by ANI whether Pitroda had given Modi a full toss, Priyanka, who is in Rae Bareli overseeing the Congress’s campaign in the seat and neighbouring Amethi, said: “Pradhan mantri inhin fizool baaton pe full toss khelte hain (The PM wastes time on full tosses like these). I challenge him, play full toss on employment, play full toss on price rise, atrocities on women… You are saving those who are committing atrocities against women… Inpe kheliye. Phir main manoongi ki haan koi khela hai (Play on these issues. Then I will believe that the game is on).”

However, as Modi led the BJP offensive over Pitroda’s “racist” comments, calling them