New Delhi/IBNS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called Overseas Congress chairperson Sam Pitroda the "third umpire" in the party's confusion in response to his controversial remark where he classified Indians on the basis of their looks.

Modi linked Pitroda's remark with Congress' opposition to the election of Ram Nath Kovind and Droupadi Murmu as the Presidents of the country in 2014 and 2019 respectively.

The Prime Minister said, "When you gave BJP a chance in 2014, we gave you a Dalit President, Shri Ram Nath Kovind.
Again, in 2019, we gave the country an Adivasi President, Smt. Draupadi Murmu.

"Congress is against the Presidentship of Murmu ji because the Prince of Congress has a 'philosopher and guide uncle' in America, who acts like the 'third umpire' in Congress' confusion. He has said that people with dark skin are from Africa."

Days after triggering a row with his inheritance remark, Pitroda said in an interview with The Statesman, "... 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."

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!"