"Modi Will Not Tolerate Disrespect On The Basis Of Skin Colour": PM Seeks Rahul Gandhi's Response To Sam Pitroda's Racist Remarks

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (8 May) expressed "anger" over Indian Overseas Congress president Sam Pitroda's racist comments against Indians of different regions while addressing a rally in Telangana's Warangal.

"Shehzade's (Rahul Gandhi) philosopher has abused Indians which has angered me. Will people's capabilities be decided on the basis of their skin colour? Who gave him permission to insult my countrymen on the basis of skin colour?" Modi said.

"Shehzade, you will have to give the answer. Disrespect of my countrymen on the basis of skin colour will not be tolerated by my country. Modi will definitely not tolerate this," the PM added.

In an interview given to The Statesman, Pitroda had said, "...People on East look like Chinese, people on West look like Arab, people on North look like, you know, maybe white and people in South look like Africa."

While Congress distanced itself from these remarks as Jairam Ramesh termed them "most unfortunate and unacceptable and dissociated the party from Pitroda's analogies, BJP has been attacking the Congress over them.

Pitroda also claimed that "Ram temple, Ram Navmi, Prime Minister going to temple all the time and talking not as a national leader but as a leader of the BJP" are challenging this idea of India.