New Delhi: Cashing in on Sam Pitroda's comments 'people in south look like Africans',  Prime Minister Narendra Modi dared DMK chief MK Stalin to cut ties with its ally Congress.

Will MK Stalin "dare to cut ties with the Congress," the Prime Minister questioned.

The DMK response was quick, and nuanced. While Pitroda's comment was "unacceptable", he was not altogether wrong, it said. "PM Modi was silent when a BJP MP made similar statements in the past," the DMK said.

Days after triggering a row with his inheritance remark, Overseas Congress chairperson Sam Pitroda has classified Indians and their looks regionally inviting jibes from the country's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the election season.

Speaking to The Statesman, Pitroda said, "... diverse country... where people on East look like Chinese, people on West look like Arab, people on North look like maybe White and people in South look like Africa."

Within hours, PM Modi used the comment as fresh ammunition while addressing a rally in Andhra Pradesh.

"They (the Congress) think people of northeast look like Chinese, South Indians look like Africans. I want to ask -- will the people accept comments like this? I want to ask Siddaramaiah -- is this ok? I want to ask the Telangana Chief Minister if he would accept. The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, who talks of Tamil culture. Will DMK have the courage to cut ties with the Congress for the sake of Tamil culture and heritage?" PM Modi said.

"The leaders of the Congress have divisive thoughts. The Congress mindset is to see the country in pieces. This is why the Congress leaders refuse to consider it one country and talk of division," PM Modi said.

In response, DMK spokesperson Dr SAS Hafeezullah said: "Sam Pitroda's stereotyping comments are unacceptable. But his core concept of diversity isn't wrong… That we are from different ethnic groups that united to form India is a fact. Sam Pitroda is nobody in India alliance, won't impact India Alliance's prospects."

PM Modi also banked on Pitroda's comment to attack Rahul Gandhi earlier in the day, saying the country "won't tolerate disrespect based on the colour of skin".

Countering Pitroda, Assam Chief Minister and BJP leader, Himanta Biswa Sarma, posted on X, "Sam bhai, I am from the North East and I look like an Indian. We are a diverse country - we may look different but we are all one. Hamare desh ke bare mein thoda to samajh lo!"

Congress distances itself:

The Congress has distanced itself from Pitroda's remark stating it does not reflect the standpoint of the grand old party, which has been out of party for 10 years now.

Congress communications-in-charge Jairam Ramesh posted on X, "Mr Pitroda expresses his opinions freely on issues he feels strongly about. Surely, in a democracy an individual is at liberty to discuss, express, and debate his personal views.

"This does not mean that Mr. Pitroda's views always reflect the position of the Indian National Congress. Many times they do not. Sensationalising his comments now and tearing them out of context are deliberate and desperate attempts at diverting attention away from Mr. Narenda Modi's malicious and mischievous election campaign; that is anchored ONLY in lies and more lies."