PM Modi challenges INDIA constituents, Congress CMs on Sam Pitroda's racial remarks

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday criticised the Congress party's "divisive mindset", specifically targeting the controversial remarks made by Sam Pitroda, and questioned whether the DMK, a key ally of the Congress, would sever ties with the party for the sake of Tamil "culture and pride".
The Prime Minister alleged that if voted to power, the Congress would reinstate Article 370, cancel the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), halt free ration schemes for the poor and free medical treatment, and reverse the Supreme Court's verdict on the Ram Mandir, ultimately locking it up.
"A big leader has displayed the divisive mindset of Congress. What the man, very close to Gandhi family and the biggest advisor of shehzada (Rahul Gandhi), said is very shameful," PM Modi said.
"Congress feels those in north eastern India look like Chinese. Can the country accept things like this? Congress feels people in the south look like Africans, will they accept this," he asked, referring to Pitroda's controversial remarks.
The PM further questioned whether the Congress chief ministers of Karnataka and Telangana, Siddaramaiah and A Revanth Reddy, would accept "such an accusation".
PM Modi also challenged DMK president and Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin, asking if he would snap ties with the Congress for the sake of Tamil pride and the Tamil people, given the serious allegations made by Pitroda.
He asked, "Do they have the guts?"
The PM also criticised the Congress for suggesting that people in the western parts of the country look like Arabs, questioning whether the people of Maharashtra accept such language. In an obvious reference to Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, PM Modi said: "I want to ask ... do people of Maharashtra accept such language. Do north Indians look like White (people).. what has happened to the Congress party."
The PM also took a swipe at the YSR Congress government in Andhra Pradesh, accusing it of betraying people's trust and allowing ministers to run a 'rowdy raj' in the state.
(With inputs from agencies)