Pilot to quit Congress? Gehlot’s former deputy says ‘no need to speculate’

Launching a veiled attack on Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot, dissident Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Thursday said some people got scared when he demanded a fair investigation into alleged corruption during the previous BJP government in the state. Pilot said he never used foul language against anyone but that doesn’t mean “we lack self-respect.”

“I was the deputy CM, I could have spent my time comfortably. But we need to do much more to fulfil the dreams of the people of Rajasthan,” the Congress leader told a gathering on the first day of his 125-km foot march from Ajmer to Jaipur.

“I have always kept my tongue under control. People have said a lot of things about me…Not using foul language doesn’t mean that we lack self-respect,” he said.

A month back, the former deputy chief minister had defied a warning from the party to hold a daylong fast targeting Gehlot on “inaction” over the alleged corruption.

“When we raised the corruption issue, I wanted a fair investigation. But they were scared. I became clear that no investigation is going to take place,” Pilot said as he asked for support in his efforts.

Referring to the scorching heat as “aag ka dariya”, he told his supporters, “This is a river of fire, we have to swim across it.”

The Congress leader later interacted with media persons where he said insisted that his demands were ideological and not personal.

When asked about speculations about him quitting the party soon, he said, “There is no need to speculate. Whatever is happening, is all before you. Whatever I say or do, I do it openly. I don’t play hide and seek. My demand is ideological, not personal. Nobody can accuse me of being ambitious for a post. Everyone knows of my politics.”

Apart from corruption, the yatra focuses on cases of paper leaks in government recruitment exams. The Congress leader said his march is not against anyone but over issues.

Earlier today, Gehlot indirectly referred to dissidence in the party. “In a democracy, those who take everyone along are successful and those who create factions can never become successful,” the chief minister said.

Congress’s state unit chief Govind Singh Dotasra was dismissive of the Pilot’s yatra.

“This is his personal yatra. This is not a Congress organisation yatra,” he told reporters who sought his response.