one of the closest associates of the Gandhi family, stepped down as chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress on Wednesday after his politically incorrect remarks to underline India’s diversity triggered a firestorm, drawing sharp reactions from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP’s chief ministers in the Northeast.

Emphasising the diversity of India, Pitroda in an interview to The Statesman, said: “People in the East look like the Chinese, people in the West look like the Arabs, people in the North look like, maybe, White, and people in the South look like Africans,” adding, “It does not matter. All of us are brothers and sisters.”

His remarks put the Congress in a difficult spot in the middle of elections. While the party initially distanced itself from Pitroda’s comments, it had to take steps to control the damage. With Pitroda’s resignation, the party hopes to put a lid on the controversy and not let the row derail its campaign.

“Mr Sam Pitroda has decided to step down as chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress of his own accord. The Congress president has accepted his decision,” Congress communication head Jairam Ramesh said.