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Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday condemned the remarks of former Indian Overseas Congress chairperson Sam Pitroda and demanded an "apology" from the Congress.
Speaking to the media at his official residence before departing for an election rally, CM Yogi said, "Sam Pitroda, the advisor and guide of the Congress leadership, espouses the party's historical divide-and-rule tactic." "Congress 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. Congress must apologise to the nations for Pitroda's comments," he said. CM Yogi also targeted the Congress over remarks of its MP last year about the regional divide and warned against attempts to fragment India along geographic lines. Yogi Adityanath condemned the statement, describing it as an affront to the unity of India's 1.4 billion citizens and emphasising the country's enduring spirit.' The Chief Minister also talked about Pitroda's remarks pertaining to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya from which Congress had distanced itself. Referring to Ram Temple, Pitroda had said that personal religious beliefs should not overshadow national issues such as employment, inflation and health "Pitroda must refrain from making such comments on the Ram temple. Lord Ram symbolises unity, cultural integrity, and the values of compassion and development for all. The construction of the Ram temple is a matter of immense pride for India, reflecting its cultural ethos and national unity," the Chief Minister said. "Humanity's supporters worldwide, including followers of Sanatana Dharma, are jubilant about the construction of the Ram temple," he added. Yogi Adityanath highlighted the positive energy generated by this monumental development and mentioned the visits of numerous ambassadors to Ayodhya, signifying international recognition of its significance. Expanding on the country's pluralistic character, Pitroda, in an interview with The Statesman, said those inhabiting the country's East look like 'Chinese' while those living down South bear resemblance with 'Africans'. "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 together as diverse as India, where people in the East look like Chinese, people in the West look like Arabs, people in the North look like whites, and maybe people in the South look like Africans," Pitroda said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the BJP's attack on Congress and Pitroda. Congress distanced itself from Pitroda's remarks and he resigned as chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress on Wednesday evening. (ANI)
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