Chief ministers of three states of the northeast on Wednesday condemned as “racist and divisive” the comment of Congress leader Sam Pitroda that the “people of the east look like the Chinese”.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Manipur CM N Biren Singh and their counterpart in Meghalaya Conrad K Sangma said that the remark has hurt the sentiment of the people.
“What has (Congress leader) Jairam Ramesh tweeted after such a grave insult to Northeast people? He just said they don’t support it. But what about the next step? Why are you not disowning him? Why are you not throwing him out of his post? In what capacity was he speaking?” Sarma told reporters.
Pitroda later resigned as the chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress and his resignation has been accepted.