LEAVE alone Prime Minister Modi’s mindless rant for a moment — and the needlessly craven apology by the Congress party spokesman — over Sam Pitroda’s scientific-spirited but lazily presented comment that Indians comprised a range of races. Mr Modi feigned outrage at an election rally when the US-based Pitroda, scientific adviser to Rajiv Gandhi and a known Gandhi family loyalist, said one could find African, Arab and Chinese elements in the racial mix of India. It was an innocent remark, for which Pitroda was forced to resign as head of the Congress party’s overseas cell.

Compare that to Modi, who is remembered for his notorious profiling of Muslims, who, he said, could be identified by their clothes. Now, for want of an issue to hammer the opposition with on a given day, Modi latched on to Pitroda’s casual assertion. “They want to insult us for the colour of our skin,” Modi thundered, gnashing his teeth for effect. It was, of course, one more cue to TV anchors to kick up a storm over a non-issue, thereby avoiding discussion on electoral bonds scam or rampant unemployment. As for the Congress’s reaction, it was typically supine. The party accused Pitroda of uttering offensive ideas and asked him to withdraw them. The timidity had to do with the need to keep the head down.

‘Racism’ is not a word that Indian politicians readily identify with their countrymen. There is a history of some other words being shunned without a devious intent. Indira Gandhi inserted ‘secularism’ and ‘socialism’ as ideals into the preamble of India’s........

© Dawn