Congress leader Sachin Pilot concluded his five-day foot march from Ajmer to Jaipur with a public meeting on Monday. The march was undertaken to protest against the “inaction” by the Rajasthan state government. In the meeting, Pilot threatened to launch a statewide movement if action on his demands is not taken by the end of the month.
Pilot made several demands, including the disbanding of the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) and its reconstitution, compensation for those affected by government job exam paper leak cases, and a high-level probe into charges of corruption he has levelled against the previous BJP government. Sachin Pilot also spoke about the need for transparent appointments, where people like scientists or lecturers are chosen, rather than appointments made based on political connections.
The former deputy CM said, “So far, I have done Anshan and taken out a yatra. If action is not taken on these three demands in the interest of youth, I will launch an agitation in the entire state. We will walk with people in villages and hamlets and get them justice.”
Sachin Pilot Accuses Rajasthan Government of Corruption and Betrayal as He Threatens Statewide Agitation Over Demands
Sachin Pilot said his agitation was not against anyone but against corruption and for the youth. He also referred to the boycott by CM loyalists of the Congress legislature party meeting in September last year.
Pilot said whoever talks about factionalism and betrayal of the party should introspect over their “betrayal” and the “insult” to party leader Sonia Gandhi last year. Sachin Pilot said they should think “whether we or they broke discipline.”
Over 90 MLAs had signed letters at UDH Shanti Dhariwal’s residence on September 25, 2022, in a bid to prevent Pilot’s candidature as the next CM face in case Gehlot was elected as AICC chief.
“We remained in public even after being abused and worked for the strengthening of the organisation, and you (Gehlot) are abusing and maligning us after eating malai. This will not happen,” said Sachin Pilot.
Referring to the CM’s statement of praising BJP leaders including Raje and Kailash Meghwal for saving the government during the political crisis in July 2020, he said, “What kind of policy is this that you malign the image of your own party leaders and praise others (BJP).”
He continued that, “I have never levelled charges against anyone. I have never said bad words against anyone. They left no chance to abuse me, but this does not worry me. In democracy, it’s the people’s blessing that matters, and no one should have a misunderstanding.”
Promising to continue his fight against corruption, he said, “I promise that I will continue to serve the people of Rajasthan till my last breath, even if I remain on any post or not. Nothing can scare me or suppress me. I have fought for you and will continue to do so.”
The Jan Sangarsh is not against any leader, it is against corruption and in favor of the youth, Pilot emphasized.
The public meeting was attended by over a dozen MLAs, including two ministers of the Gehlot cabinet – Rajendra Gudha and Hema Ram Choudhary. Congress spokespersons did not comment on the matter. However, the Congress leadership that had termed Pilot’s Anshan ‘anti-party activity’ had called his yatra ‘personal,’ and said they are ‘keeping an eye.’
Reacting to the demands made by Pilot, BJP demanded a high-level probe into the charges levelled by the minister on its own party government.
BJP demands high-level probe into Pilot’s corruption allegations; Congress remains silent on the matter.
The leader of opposition (LoP) Rajendra Rathore said Congress ministers themselves are telling the reality of the promise of ‘Zero Discretion, Zero Corruption, and Zero Tolerance’ made in the public manifesto regarding corruption.
Meanwhile, the Rajasthan government has not responded to Pilot’s demands yet. However, the state’s opposition party, the BJP, has demanded a high-level probe into the allegations of corruption made by Pilot against the previous BJP government.
The leader of the opposition, Rajendra Rathore, stated that the allegations made by Pilot are serious and there should be a fair and high-level inquiry. According to Article 164(2) of the Constitution, the cabinet works on the basis of collective responsibility and the statement of a minister is considered to be that of the entire cabinet, he said.
The Congress party, which has been facing infighting in Rajasthan for a while now, has not commented on the matter. However, the party had earlier termed Pilot’s Anshan ‘anti-party activity’ and had called his yatra ‘personal,’ while stating that they are ‘keeping an eye’ on the situation.
Pilot, on his part, has promised to continue his fight against corruption and to serve the people of Rajasthan till his last breath. He has said that his Jan Sangarsh yatra is not against any leader, but against corruption and in favor of the youth.
The meeting held by Pilot today was attended by over a dozen MLAs, including two ministers of the Gehlot cabinet – Rajendra Gudha and Hema Ram Choudhary. Pilot had earlier demanded the disbanding of the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) and its reconstitution, compensation for those affected by government job exam paper leak cases, and a high-level probe into charges of corruption he has levelled against the previous BJP government.
Pilot has also criticized the Gehlot government, stating that appointments in Rajasthan are often political and done through jugaad, and that appointments need to be made in a transparent manner, with people like scientists and lecturers chosen for the roles.
Pilot has threatened to launch a statewide movement in Rajasthan if action on his demands is not taken by the end of this month. He has said that he will launch an agitation across the state if his demands are not met, and that he will walk with people in villages and hamlets to get them justice.
The former deputy CM has also referred to the boycott by CM loyalists of the Congress legislature party meeting in September last year. He has said that whoever talks about factionalism and betrayal of the party should introspect over their ‘betrayal’ and the ‘insult’ to party leader Sonia Gandhi last year, and that they should think ‘whether we or they broke discipline’.
Pilot has also criticized the CM’s statement of praising BJP leaders including Raje and Kailash Meghwal for saving the government during the political crisis in July 2020, stating that this kind of policy is maligning the image of Congress party leaders and praising others (BJP).
Overall, Pilot’s Jan Sangarsh yatra and his demands have once again brought the issue of corruption and political appointments to the forefront in Rajasthan. Whether the state government will take any action on his demands or not remains to be seen, but Pilot has made it clear that he will not back down until justice is done.