Tag: pilot

Like Karnataka, Cong should also expose scams of previous BJP govt in Rajasthan: Pilot

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Jaipur: Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Saturday referred to the party’s aggressive campaign in the Karnataka polls targeting the BJP over corruption to raise his old demand of exposing “scams” of the previous BJP government in Rajasthan, saying people will then “have faith that we do what we say”.
He said he has been raising this issue for the last one-and-a-half years.
“I had written letters for one-and-a-half years and I had urged for concrete action in the allegations of scams we had made during the BJP rule. I held a one-day fast in Jaipur too. I am repeatedly urging that strict action should be taken in this so that people have faith that we do what we say,” he told reporters in Barmer.

Pilot said the Congress is raising the corruption issue in Karnataka and so the scams of the former BJP government should also be highlighted in Rajasthan.
“We are accusing the BJP government in Karnataka of taking 40 per cent commission and people are believing it. That is why I say that time has come to expose the corruption that took place in Rajasthan during the BJP rule. We will have to live up to the commitment we had made,” he said.
The former Rajasthan deputy chief minister had last month sat on fast here, piling pressure on his own party by targeting the Ashok Gehlot government in the state for “inaction” in alleged cases of corruption when the BJP was in power.
Pilot also took a jibe at former chief minister Vasundhara Raje, saying “I never said that there is any collusion (between Gehlot and Raje). People are unnecessarily giving their clarification.”
Pilot said he just wants the truth to come out.

“Facts should be brought to the fore by getting the allegations made by us to be investigated by a sitting or retired judge of the high court,” he said.
A few days ago, Raje had rejected allegations of collusion with Gehlot as lie, saying milk and lemon juice never mix.
Earlier, while addressing a programme organised by Forest Minister Hemaram Chaudhary, Pilot said he will continue his fight against corruption even if “some people” do not like it.
“Corruption is like a termite which is making the country hollow,” he said, adding “We have to raise our voice against loot and corruption in the country and state.”
Gehlot and Pilot have been in a power tussle in the state since the Congress formed the government in December 2018.
Pilot once again targeted his party’s government in the state over the paper leak issue, saying the hard work put in by students goes in vain if an exam gets cancelled.
“Our children work hard for years, their parents pay for tuition to make them study… they give exams but the question paper gets leaked and the exam gets cancelled, don’t we feel sad?” he said.
In January, Pilot said when incidents of paper leaks are happening one after the other, accountability will have to be fixed.
He also backed the protest by women wrestlers at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, saying “Today, our girls are sitting at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, they have alleged exploitation… for how many more days will we not feel their pain?”
He further said people with good conduct and good thinking should enter politics and the voters should choose such leaders.
“Everything can change but there is a need to take steps. All dreams can come true but there is a need to take everyone along,” he added.
Pilot on this occasion inaugurated ‘Virendra Dham’ hostel and statue of minister Hemaram Chaudhary’s late son Virendra Chaudhary who died in 2015.
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#Karnataka #Cong #expose #scams #previous #BJP #govt #Rajasthan #Pilot
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

May 6, 2023
BJP can be defeated nationally only when it is defeated in states: Sachin Pilot

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Jaipur: Senior Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Wednesday said the BJP can be defeated at the national level only when it is defeated in the states and asked “everyone” to work together to achieve this.
“It is necessary to defeat BJP in different states. We can defeat BJP at the national level only when we defeat them in the states. That is why everyone needs to work together,” Pilot said at an Eid-related event here.
The former deputy chief minister of Rajasthan also expressed confidence that the Congress party will win the Karnataka assembly election and will form the government in the state.

Pilot, who has been locked in a power tussle with Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, said assembly elections will be held next in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana and political meetings will begin in these states in a few months.
He said mutual harmony and brotherhood should be maintained during the election campaign.
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#BJP #defeated #nationally #defeated #states #Sachin #Pilot

( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

May 3, 2023
Firm in my demand for action on BJP’s corruption: Sachin Pilot

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Jaipur: Former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot on Sunday indicated he will continue with his agitation against his own government for action against the corruption in the previous BJP government.
Pilot said he is not backing down from the stand he has taken against the state Congress government saying he is “politely requesting” it to take action in corruption cases from the previous dispensation.
He said despite his daylong fast on April 11, no action has been taken in such cases.

“Speaking truth, raising voice against corruption and injustice, is among the values of the Congress party. Following these values, I observed one-day fast on April 11. Today, it’s been two weeks, no action has been taken so far.
“So, again I am politely requesting the government to fulfil the promises we had made to the people,” Pilot told reporters here, adding that now even demanding action against corruption is being termed anti-party’ activity.
Pilot was speaking to media after offering his prayers at Jhadkhad Temple (Shiv Temple) in the city.
He said he welcomes the action taken by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), which arrested several corrupt IAS, IPS, RAS and other officers.
“The Chief Minister himself had said that ACB is active and has raided several corrupt officers, which we all welcome. But, when he had come into power after being in opposition for five years, we never said that we would arrest a patwari or officer. We had said we will take action in the corruption cases that happened in Vasundhara Ji’s tenure,” Pilot said.

After the Pilot’s one-day fast, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had said that ACB has arrested several corrupt IAS, IPS officers, which has nowhere happened in the country.
People voted for people because corruption was a big issue before Congress came to power, he said, adding that since there is very little time left in the assembly elections, action should be taken.
“If we all raise corruption done by the BJP or if I raise the corruption issues of the previous Vasundhara Raje government and demand action on them then I believe that it is in the benefit of the party,” Pilot said.
He also raised questions over inaction against the party leaders who defied the party’s high command in September 2022.
“It is true that the incident that took place on September 25 was an open violation of the orders of our Congress President Sonia Gandhi. Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken were openly insulted. Why hasn’t action been taken against them yet? This is the question, the answer lies with the party,” Pilot said.
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#Firm #demand #action #BJPs #corruption #Sachin #Pilot
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 23, 2023
Air India’s HR policies, draconian, unethical: Pilot bodies

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Chennai: Terming the human resource (HR) policy of Air India Ltd as “draconian approach” and “driven by a lack of trust”, two pilot bodies have appealed to the Tata Group Chairman N. Chandrasekaran to intervene and rectify the situation.
“Tata has always prided itself on its fair and ethical practices. However, the actions of the HR department with regard to the pilots are completely contrary to these values. The pilots are being subjected to unfair treatment. It is clear that the HR department is flouting the laws and regulations that are in place to protect the rights of employees. The pilots are being subjected to a hostile work environment,” says a joint letter by the Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association (ICPA) and Indian Pilots’ Guild (IPG).
“It is imperative that the spiteful ideology of the Human Resource department (of Air India) be addressed promptly to prevent any potential adverse effects on the growth prospects of our esteemed airline,” the unions told the Chairman.

The pilot unions said they were hopeful and excited when the Tata Group bought the Air India as the group was reputed to “have the most phototropic and holistic management style amongst the leading organisations of the world”.
The unions said the HR department of Air India appeared to be focused on dismantling, restructuring, or even replacing the human assets of the airline.
“HR policies characterised by a draconian approach, driven by a lack of trust and aimed at curtailing the autonomy of employees, began to roll out,” the unions alleged.
According to the unions, the response of Air India’s human resources department to their issues were at odds with the public perception of the Tata Group as a compassionate employer known for their empathy towards their employees.
“The philosophy of the current HR leadership at Air India appears to be significantly divergent from the esteemed and compassionate principles espoused by the late Mr. JRD Tata and the Chairman Emeritus, the respected Mr. Ratan Tata,” the joint letter notes.

The unions are against the Air India’s move to unilaterally change the service conditions of some of the pilots in the guise of promotion.
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#Air #Indias #policies #draconian #unethical #Pilot #bodies
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 22, 2023
Congress’ dilemma: Gehlot or Pilot for CM Candidate in upcoming polls?

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With the Assembly election later this year, Rajasthan faces a political crisis again. The party lost Punjab last year because of mishandling by the Gandhis by backing the wrong horse. Will the Congress leadership be able to save Rajasthan from going the Punjab way?
Congress and BJP have been alternating in Government, and now it is the turn of the BJP to win the elections in Rajasthan. Congress desperately needs to retain the big state in the Assembly polls.
In a catch-22 situation, Congress is still dithering whether to face the electorate with Ashok Gehlot as Chief Minister or the rebel Sachin Pilot instead.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his former Deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot are at loggerheads again. The power tussle between the two started in 2018, first over party tickets and later over the chief minister’s position. Gehlot wants to keep his job, and Pilot wants to grab it immediately.
Pilot had rebelled twice in the meanwhile. In 2020, he led a revolt with the tacit support of the BJP with 20 of his legislators; the one-month-long political crisis ended after the Congress high command promised to look into the issues raised by Sachin Pilot.
The second time was in September 2022, when the Gehlot camp consisting of 90 MLAs, submitted their resignation letters to prevent Sachin Pilot from succeeding Gehlot. This was when Ashok was offered the party chief’s position. Gehlot wanted to be chief minister and rejected the party post.
Pilot thinks it is now or never as the time is running out. Though he is only 46, if Pilot misses the boat, his next shot would be in 2028. He is not in the mood to waste 5 years of political life.
Last week, Pilot announced a one-day dharna accusing the Gehlot Government of failing to act against the excise mafia, illegal mining, land encroachment, or the Lalit Modi affidavit case sat in dharna for a day. He complained Gehlot had been reluctant to act against the predecessor Vasundhara-led Government. Incidentally, Vasundhara Raje (BJP) quietly helped Gehlot win the confidence vote in 2020. Also, she is staking her claims to become chief minister again.

Sachin is young, charismatic, ambitious, articulate, and sophisticated. He is also close to Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi; However, he is a rebel, impatient, and ambitious. There are speculations BJP might offer him a ministerial berth. With few young leaders left, PIlot’s quitting could hurt Congress before the polls.
Ashok Gehlot is 71, asking the electorate for one last chance. If disturbed now, he will break the party.
The options before Congress are few. One is to counsel patience to Sachin. He has chosen corruption as an issue this time. When Rahul Gandhi is spearheading corruption, how could they blame Sachin? Moving Pilot to Delhi to give organizational responsibilities was one of the options, but Pilot would not be satisfied.
Alienating Gehlot also will have repercussions. One option is to convince the one-time magician Gehlot to step down. Gehlot had been the chief minister twice earlier and was an experienced leader from the OBC community. He has shown many times that he is a man in control. But, he is an aging leader, lacks charisma, and indulges in factionalism. He also faces anti-incumbency.
It will be an acid test for the six-month-old Congress Chief Mallikharjun Kharge busy amid Karnataka Assembly polls.
Last month, he was toying with making PIlot the state party chief, which would have soothed Sachin but upset Gehlot. Kharge may be waiting for the Karnataka elections to conclude. With pretty good chances of winning the state, he could deal with both leaders from a position of strength.
Ultimately, it depends on the party’s high command to find an acceptable formula for both. But this is easier said than done. Congress leadership has little time to dither.
The first and foremost is to quieten the warring camps. The Congress has roped veteran Kamal Nath to mediate between the two sides.
Secondly, the High command should act swiftly.
Keeping the crisis unaddressed will result in further chaos. It might also affect the party’s chances in Karnataka.
Thirdly, Kharge should ensure Rajasthan is not messed up as they did in Punjab by backing the wrong horse and losing the state.
Fourthly, there are few politically savvy peacemakers like Ahmed Patel. Also, Sonia Gandhi has taken a backseat.
Kamalnath has reportedly offered Pilot a ‘meaty’ role in the AICC secretariat, a member of the Congress Working Committee, and a vital role in the screening committee for the upcoming Rajasthan elections.
The High Command is not willing to disturb Gehlot. So, Congress must tread carefully, as any misstep would mean losing Rajasthan. It will need all the mediating skills to resolve the issue at a time when Congress needs to win and not lose.
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#Congress #dilemma #Gehlot #Pilot #Candidate #upcoming #polls
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 22, 2023
Gehlot’s veiled attack on Pilot: ‘Cong leaders should not do anything that damages party’

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New Delhi: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday said Congress workers and leaders should not do anything that damages the party, in remarks seen as a veiled attack on his former deputy Sachin Pilot who has been questioning the state government’s alleged inaction in “corruption” cases.
Gehlot, who arrived in Delhi on Friday afternoon, said they should work towards ensuring that the Congress government is repeated in the state.
The veteran Congress leader said he is here for personal obligations and would be meeting some friends before returning to the state on Saturday.

“It is easy to ignite fire, but very difficult to douse it….I talk about ‘mehngai raahat’ (relief from price rise). Congress leaders and workers should work towards strengthening the party and work towards bringing its government once again in the state and how they can contribute towards it. They should not do anything which harms the party,” he told reporters at the airport here.
“I feel that if due to some remark one faces some loss, one should not worry about one’s personal loss as the party high command would compensate you. But, one should not say or do anything that should harm the party and organisation as no one will be able to compensate for the damage caused,” he said in a veiled reference to remarks made by Pilot, who sat on a fast recently seeking action on alleged corruption during the BJP’s Vasundhara Rajes previous government.
Pilot sat on a protest in Jaipur last week demanding action against those involved in corruption during the previous Raje government.
The Congress had termed it “anti-party activity”. But Pilot went ahead with his fast dharna. The Congress has so far not acted against Pilot for protesting against his own party’s government.
Gehlot said his government has brought in several new schemes and more are coming. The people of the state feel that our government will be repeated, he said.

“We have talked to 100 MLAs and everyone said that whatever was asked for (from the state government) was received and work is going on everywhere in the state,” he said.
Asked about surveys being conducted by the party ahead of the assembly elections later this year, he said many such exercises will be held to assess the work of MLAs.
On former Congress president Rahul Gandhi vacating his official bungalow after being disqualified as MP, Gehlot said, “Whenever there is a conspiracy, the conspirator completes the entire conspiracy. The moment the case was filed, they decided what to do. The case was earlier not heard for four years, but suddenly everything was expedited as part of a conspiracy. It was a conspiracy.”
He said neither Prime Minister Narendra Modi nor Home Minister Amit Shah knows about the Gandhi family which has made sacrifices for the nation.
“The entire Congress family and workers want them to continue to provide leadership to the party,” the chief minister noted.
Gehlot expressed concern over the issue of unemployment and price rise in the country, saying, “We want to address that, as it is affecting people. We are also providing jobs in the government and non-government sectors in Rajasthan.”
“We have launched a number of schemes for the welfare of people and we are now launching ‘Mehngai raahat camps’ that will provide some help,” he noted, adding that these camps will function in villages across the state.
He said a scheme to provide gas cylinders at Rs 500 was launched on April 1 and people are getting cheaper cylinders. “We will provide benefits to all, be it of the Congress or the BJP.”
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#Gehlots #veiled #attack #Pilot #Cong #leaders #damages #party
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 21, 2023
Pilot targets Gehlot again, renews demand for probe into ‘BJP corruption’

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Jaipur: Making clear that he is not backing down from the stand he has taken against his own government in Rajasthan, Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Monday renewed his demand for a probe into alleged corruption during the term of the previous BJP government.
The former chief minister recently went on a daylong fast over this, defying the party’s central leadership even after it termed his proposed move “anti-party activity”.
Pilot target had appeared to be Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot — he criticised the Gehlot government for “inaction” in “corruption cases” at a time when the party is gearing up for the year-end assembly polls.

Addressing a gathering in Jhunjhunu on Monday, the dissident leader stuck to his position.
“I am asking for action even today. It’s been a week now but no action has been taken,” he said, repeating his demand for “an inquiry against those involved in corruption.”
“Action should be taken if the evidence is found. It is the responsibility of all of us to give Rajasthan clean politics,” he said.
He said he will not compromise on the issue of corruption.
Due to his scheduled public events in Jhunjhunu and Jaipur, Pilot also skipped a meeting with All India Congress Committee in-charge for Rajasthan Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and state Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra.

The three are holding separate meetings with all Rajasthan Congress MLAs in the run-up to the polls. Monday was the turn of the MLAs from the Ajmer division, under which Pilot’s Tonk constituency falls.
In Jhunjhunu’s Khetri town, Pilot told reporters that an investigation should be carried out as soon as possible because the entire Congress, including Rahul Gandhi, has been fighting “corruption” by the BJP government at the Centre.
“In Rajasthan, elections are seven months away. You want an effective and transparent inquiry into all those scandals that broke out when the BJP was in power, and I think we should do it as soon as possible,” Pilot said.
“Be it Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh or UP, we have always exposed the BJP’s corruption,” he said.
Replying to a question over the inflation relief programme announced by Gehlot, he said, Pilot said he welcomed such relief schemes.
“But in politics credibility and what you say is also important. When we go to the polls seven months later, we will be told you made the allegations — either you were lying or you didn’t have enough courage (to follow through),” he said.
An MLA told reporters that he mentioned Pilot when he met party leaders during their interactions with legislators.
“I told them about the influence of Sachin Pilot in Ajmer. He has been an MP from Ajmer and there is a big number of his supporters there,” Masuda MLA Rakesh Pareek said
Pilot’s fast last week put the party’s central leadership in a quandry on whether to take action against him or not.
“If there is any issue with his own government, it can be discussed at party forums instead of the media and in public,” Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa had said in a statement the night before Pilot’s dharna.
“This is clearly anti-party activity,” he had then said.
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#Pilot #targets #Gehlot #renews #demand #probe #BJP #corruption
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 17, 2023
Hanuman Beniwal asks Sachin Pilot to form new party, offers alliance

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Jaipur: Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) chief Hanuman Beniwal on Tuesday asked Congress leader Sachin Pilot to form a new party and forge an alliance with him for the assembly polls due later this year.
Beniwal said he is open to form alliance with any party against the Congress and the BJP.
On Tuesday, Pilot opened a new front against Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot by sitting on a day-long fast against the Rajasthan government ‘inaction’ in cases of alleged corruption filed during the previous BJP rule. The Congress state unit had warned Pilot that the fast would be considered “anti-party activity” but he went ahead with it anyway.

Pilot and Gehlot have been at loggerheads since the Congress formed government in the state in December 2018.
“I have suggested earlier also that if Sachin Pilot forms his party, then RLP is ready for alliance for the elections,” Beniwal told reporters.
“I can only give suggestions. If he forms the party, we will do an alliance. If he does not make his party, then it is his wish. Our doors are open for alliance with any party against Congress and BJP,” the Nagaur MP said.
A Jat leader, Beniwal said in the last assembly election, 80 lakh votes out of the 4 crore were against Congress and BJP, and this number can go up to 2 crore if all anti-Congress and anti-BJP parties come together in the state.
Beniwal contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in alliance with BJP on Nagaur seat and won it.

In December 2020, he announced his split from NDA over the new farm laws and supported the farmers movement. His party has three MLAs in the House of 200.
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#Hanuman #Beniwal #asks #Sachin #Pilot #form #party #offers #alliance
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 11, 2023
Pilot sits on dharna, targets own govt in Rajasthan

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Jaipur: Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Tuesday sat here on a fast, piling pressure on his own party by targeting the Ashok Gehlot government in Rajasthan for inaction’ in alleged cases of corruption when the BJP ran the state.
The former deputy chief minister began the dharna at the Martyr’s Memorial here, ignoring warnings by the Congress central leadership that the move just months ahead of the assembly polls is “anti-party activity”.
CM Gehlot and Pilot have been at loggerheads since the Congress formed the government in the state in December 2018.

Pilot offered flowers at the portraits of Mahatma Gandhi and social reformer Jyotirao Phule before starting his silent protest around 11 am. “This struggle against corruption will continue,” Pilot told reporters while leaving the venue at 4 pm as scheduled.
He sat alone on the dais for five hours, against the backdrop of a large banner that described the event as a fast against “corruption” during the term of BJP’s Vasundhara Raje — “Vasundhara Sarkar Me Hue Bhrashtachar ke Viruddh Anshan”. The song “Vaishnav Jan To Tene Kahiye” played in the background.
His supporters sat behind or below the platform.
No ruling party minister or MLA showed up as they were asked by Pilot to keep away. But several other leaders, including former MLAs Santosh Saharan and Ramnarayan Gurjar were present.
The Pilot faction apparently did not want to make it a headcount of MLAs with him versus those with Gehlot in the divided Rajasthan Congress. Also, this would have put the pro-Pilot MLAs at a greater risk of action by the party leadership.

Gehlot did not made any direct remark on Pilot’s move after the younger leader announced the agitation on Sunday.
But On Tuesday morning, as his former deputy began the dharna, the CM released a video expounding his own vision for the state. “I have decided that I have to make Rajasthan the top state by 2030,” he said.
“To realise this dream, in the last four budgets and this year’s ‘Bachat, Rahat and Badhat’ budget, I have made schemes no other state has,” he added in the clip, which could be interpreted as an indication that the veteran politician sees himself as his party’s CM candidate in the next election as well.
Pilot’s fast was an apparent attempt to stall this in the run-up to the polls. But the Congress leadership appeared to have thrown its weight behind Gehlot, at least for now.
“If there is any issue with his own government, it can be discussed at party forums instead of the media and in public,” Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Rajasthan in-charge at the All India Congress Committee (AICC), had said in a statement Monday night.
“This is clearly anti-party activity. I am in touch with him and I still appeal for dialogue since he is an indisputable asset to the Congress,” he added.
Rajasthan Tourism Minister Vishvendra Singh’s son Anirudh Singh, who recently targeted Rahul Gandhi for his remarks in UK, was present at the dharna site. Several workers from Pilot’s constituency Tonk and areas in eastern Rajasthan also came.
As the fast ended, Pilot said the Congress had assured people that its government will take effective action over corruption during the term of the previous BJP government.
“I wanted the Congress government to take action against the corruption of the former government,” he told reporters. “This struggle against corruption will continue.”
The Gehlot-Pilot tussle began during the formation of the Congress government in December 2018. Both were keen on the chief minister’s post.
But the party high command picked Gehlot for the top post in the state for a third time and Pilot was made his deputy.
In July 2020, Pilot and a section of Congress MLAs rebelled openly against Gehlot, demanding a change of leadership in the state. Pilot was stripped then of the posts of deputy chief minister and Pradesh Congress Committee president.
The month-long crisis ended after the party’s central leadership’s assurance to look into the issues Pilot raised.
Gehlot later used terms like “gaddar” (traitor), “nakara” (failure) and “nikamma” (worthless) for Pilot, and accused him of being involved with BJP leaders in a conspiracy to topple the Congress government.
Last September, MLAs in the Gehlot camp boycotted a Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting and held a parallel meeting to stall what they felt was an attempt to make Pilot the new chief minister.
Gehlot was then being considered for the party president’s post.
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#Pilot #sits #dharna #targets #govt #Rajasthan
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 11, 2023
Sachin Pilot to go ahead with fast; it’s not targeted at anyone but graft, say sources

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New Delhi: Congress leader Sachin Pilot will go ahead with his daylong fast on Tuesday to press for his demand for action against corruption during the previous BJP rule in Rajasthan, with sources close to him saying his fight is against graft under the Vasundhara Raje regime and not targeted at anyone else.
The sources close to the former Rajasthan deputy chief minister also said that while Rahul Gandhi was fighting Adani over alleged corruption, likewise Pilot was taking up the issue to hold the previous Raje dispensation accountable.
The Congress has been strongly raising its voice against corruption in the country, be it on the Adani matter or by the Karnataka government. If action is not taken against those responsible for graft under the Raje government, then why would people take us seriously, a source close to Pilot said.

The source said Pilot’s fast was not targeted at anyone in the Congress but was a “fight against corruption”.
The assertion by sources close to Pilot came after many saw the former deputy chief minister’s move of going on a fast as an attempt to pressure the high command to resolve the leadership issue ahead of the polls this year-end.
Another person in the know of things said Pilot had not been approached by anyone in the Congress to not hold the fast.
Pilot on Sunday alleged that the Ashok Gehlot-led government failed to investigate cases of alleged corruption during the BJP rule in Rajasthan and announced a day-long fast to press for action.
Without referring to Pilot’s demand, the Congress issued a statement in Delhi that its government with Ashok Gehlot as chief minister has implemented schemes that have benefited people and the party will seek a renewed mandate later this year “on the strength of these landmark achievements and the collective efforts of our organisation”.

All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge of state Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said it was “not appropriate” for Pilot to hold a press conference in this manner and that he should have raised the issue with him first.
Pilot has said he will observe a day-long fast at Shaheed Smarak in Jaipur on April 11, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule who was from the Saini community to which Gehlot belongs.
At a press conference at his residence in Jaipuron Sunday, Pilot had said, “No action was taken (by the Gehlot government) on the corruption by the previous Vasundhara Raje government. While in the Opposition, we promised an inquiry into the mines scam of Rs 45,000 crore.”
He said he wrote to Gehlot last year on March 28 and November 2 on the issue but did not get any answer to his letters.
“With six seven months left for the elections, the opponents can spread an illusion that there is some collusion. Therefore, action will have to be taken soon so that the Congress workers feel that there is no difference between our words and actions,” he had said.
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#Sachin #Pilot #ahead #fast #targeted #graft #sources
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 10, 2023