The senior congress leader in Rajasthan, Sachin Pilot is against the top brass as he called for a protest ‘fast’ against the ruling congress government in the state. Pilot will be having a day-long fast today (April 11). Pilot is organising the protest alleging that the state government failed to investigate cases of alleged corruption during the Bharatiya Janata Party rule in Rajasthan.
Following his decision to hold the fast, the central leadership has called it an ‘anti-party activity’ which may lead to ‘disciplinary’ action against Pilot.
On April 10, Pilot announced at a press conference that he will be observing a fast to register his protest against Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.
Pilot said Congress colleague and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot was sitting on corruption cases against the previous Vasundhara Raje-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, and said he would hold the fast to demand action on these cases.
On April 10, while addressing a press conference at his residence in Jaipur, the former Deputy CM played video clips of Gehlot’s statements on “BJP’s corruption”, saying he was quite “worried” about the lack of action in these cases. Pilot said he finds the lack of action “vichitra (bizarre)” and added that he had written two letters to Gehlot last year but did not receive any response.
Following Pilot’s press conference and his statements regarding the day-long fasting, the Congress High Commission wrote a letter to him stating, “Sachin Pilot’s day-long fast tomorrow is against the party interests and is anti-party activity. If there is any issue with his own government, it can be discussed in the party forums instead of in the media and public. I have been an AICC in-charge for five months and Pilot ji has never discussed this issue with me. I am in touch with him and I still appeal for calm dialogue since he is an indisputable asset to the Congress party”.
Statement issued by Shri Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, AICC In charge of Rajasthan. pic.twitter.com/PMn8aDdu0O
— INC Sandesh (@INCSandesh) April 10, 2023
These statements were made by the All India Congress Committee (AICC) in charge of Rajasthan, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa.
As quoted by the news agency PTI, Pilot will go ahead with his fast. The sources also said while Rahul Gandhi was fighting on the Adani issue of alleged corruption, likewise Pilot was taking up the issue to hold the previous Raje dispensation accountable. Pilot is likely to sit on a “maun vrat” and not speak against the government.
BJP’s Junior minister for parliamentary affairs at the centre, Arjun Ram Meghwal, said the Congress government in Rajasthan seems to be divided into two factions. There is no development, governance is missing and the people are suffering, he said.
“I believe the people will teach them a lesson in the coming elections,” Meghwal added.
राजस्थान की कांग्रेस सरकार दो भागों में बंटी हुई है। एक खेमे का नेतृत्व अशोक गहलोत व दूसरे खेमे का सचिन पायलट कर रहे हैं।
कांग्रेस आलाकमान ने राजस्थान में दो मुख्यमंत्री दिए हैं; जिसकी वजह से आज प्रदेशभर में अफरातफरी का माहौल है। आने वाले चुनावों में जनता इनको सबक सिखाएगी। pic.twitter.com/hNcUfXAGfU
— Arjun Ram Meghwal (@arjunrammeghwal) April 10, 2023
“See, the party is preoccupied with (protesting against) Rahulji’s disqualification. We are holding press conferences every day, mobilising workers… It was not the right time,” Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said.
Sachin Pilot during his ‘anshan’ against the alleged corruption during the previous Vasundhara Raje-led government in the state.
#WATCH | Rajasthan Congress leader Sachin Pilot on a daylong fast calling for action against alleged corruption during the previous Vasundhara Raje-led government in the state pic.twitter.com/MCav6OinIQ
— ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) April 11, 2023
Gehlot called a cabinet meeting
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is likely to hold a cabinet meeting on April 12 as his former deputy Sachin Pilot began his day-long hunger strike today (April 11) against his own government to press for action against corruption during the previous BJP government in the state.
Notably, Rajasthan cabinet minister BD Kalla on Tuesday said that Sachin Pilot should raise these issues inside party forums and not publicly or in front of the media.
He added, “The Congress will win the upcoming elections in Rajasthan. The party is strong and several schemes have been launched which are of people’s benefit. Under the leadership of Ashok Gehlot, Congress will win the elections. I will not speak on Sachin Pilot as this is something which is to be discussed inside the party forum”.
On the other hand, Congress leader Salman Khurshid said, ““Whatever it is, you should talk about it at home and not out of the house. If there is anything, then meet the CM at least and tell him. One should not commit the mistake of speaking outside”.
