Page 7 - Sachin Pilot

Seems Ashok Gehlot's leader is Raje not Sonia Gandhi: Sachin Pilot

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's speech in Dholpur reflects that his leader is Vasundhara Raje and not Sonia Gandhi, Sachin Pilot said in a no holds barred attack against his party colleague on Tuesday. The Congress leader also categorically denied Gehlot's charges during his speech on Sunday that the MLAs who rebelled against him in 2020 had taken money from the BJP and they should return the money to Amit Shah. Pilot, Gehlot's former deputy, also announced a 'Jan Sangharsh Yatra' from Ajmer to Jaipur on May 11 to raise issues of corruption. After listening to the chief minister's speech in Dholpur, it seems the CM's leader is not Sonia Gandhi, his leader is Vasundhara Raje Scindia, Pilot told reporters. Addressing a programme in Dholpur on Sunday, Gehlot claimed that he survived the 2020 revolt by some Congress MLAs because BJP leaders Vasundhara Raje and Kailash Meghwal refused to support a conspiracy to topple an elected government through money power. Pilot also said i

Solve Mali quota demand in accordance with provisions: Pilot asks Raj govt

Amid the ongoing stir by the Mali community for a separate 12 per cent reservation, former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot Saturday urged the Rajasthan government to find a satisfactory solution to the matter in accordance with constitutional provisions. Members of the have blocked Jaipur-Agra national highway in Bharatpur to press for their demand for quota in government jobs and educational institutional institutions. The agitation, during which a man hanged himself to a tree, continued for the ninth consecutive day on Saturday. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also belongs to the Mali community. On Saturday, Pilot, in a tweet, said Saini, Mali, Kushwaha, Shakya and Maurya communities have been struggling with their demand for reservation for the last few days. "I urge the state government to find a satisfactory solution to this matter as soon as possible in accordance with the constitutional provisions keeping in view their economic interest and social development," he said in a .

Rajasthan Deputy CM Pilot urges Congress leaders to go among the masses

Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot on Saturday called on AICC representatives to go in the middle of the people and listen to them as the state election inches close. Pilot also met assembly speaker CP Joshi earlier in the day. The party earlier in the week appointed Amrita Dhawan and Virendra Singh Rathore as AICC co-in charge of Rajasthan, while Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa remains the in-charge of the state. "Changes in the organisation take place from time to time. Elections are six months away, so people have been given responsibility and I think it will send a good message," he said. "I want all of us, whether they are representatives of AICC or those handling the work of the party organisation, to go to the ground, talk to the people and understand the feelings of the workers," he said. The Congress leader also expressed solidarity with the wrestlers protesting against the Wrestling Federation of India Chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and accused the BJP of ...

Firm in my demand for action on BJP's corruption, says Sachin Pilot

Former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot on Sunday asserted 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 and has been 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 ...

We are all united: Rajasthan Congress chief on Gehlot-Pilot issue

Rajasthan Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasara on Friday downplayed the ongoing tussle between Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot, saying "we are all united". He also said if a leader is not found popular in his constituency in the party's pre-poll survey, he should not get a ticket even if it is him. "I am a man of the organisation and will take all people of the organisation along. Today, I can say that we are all united and are strengthening the Congress," he told reporters here. "Pilot has already said that he has conveyed his point to the high command and at the same time, the AICC in-charge for Rajasthan Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa has also conveyed his point to the high command," the PCC chief said. "Then a third person should not comment on this." On the chances of a Cabinet reshuffle before elections, he said, "This is the prerogative of the chief minister, but there are always possibilities." On the allotment of tickets in elections, he said th

Pilot targets Gehlot again, renews demand for probe into 'BJP corruption'

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 deputy 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's 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. He had gone to unveil the statue of Pulwama attack martyr Sheo Ram Gurjar. "I am asking for action even today. It's been a week now but no action has been taken," Pilot said, repeating his demand for "an inquiry against those involved in corruption". "Action should

Rajasthan Cong infighting at peak, will lead to party's destruction: LoP

Taking a jibe at the Congress's exercise to take feedback from its MLAs, Leader of Opposition in the Rajasthan Assembly Rajendra Rathore claimed on Monday that infighting in the state's ruling party is at its peak. He also said this infighting will lead to the destruction of the Congress. Referring to Sachin Pilot's daylong fast last week, Rathore told reporters here that the former deputy chief minister had warned that he was running out of patience. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader called the Ashok Gehlot government a government of lies and loot and said when the Congress high-command had sent a team to Jaipur, the members of the team were not given a hearing but now, one-on-one meetings are being held in view of the Assembly polls due later in the year. He was referring to a Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting that was scheduled to be held at Chief Minister Gehlot's residence here on September 25 last year regarding a change in leadership in the state, but could not

Cong leaders start dialogue with MLAs in Rajasthan, Pilot skips interaction

The ruling Congress in Rajasthan on Monday began a series of individual meetings between MLAs and senior leaders to gear up the party for the upcoming assembly polls. Former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot, who has been involved in a leadership tussle with Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, skipped his interaction. AICC incharge for Rajasthan Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Gehlot and Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief Govind Singh Dotasra held one-on-one meetings with MLAs from districts that come under Ajmer and Jodhpur divisions. Pilot, who recently opened another front against Gehlot over inaction on alleged corruption under the erstwhile Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government, skipped the meeting. The Tonk MLA addressed two scheduled public meetings in Shahpura (Jaipur) and Khetri (Jhunjhunu). Tonk comes under the Ajmer division. Pilot told reporters in Khetri that he already had two programmes scheduled for the day and therefore he could not attend the meeting in Jaipur. He said he

Rebellions in Congress: Sachin Pilot continues tirade against Gehlot regime

Sachin Pilot has sought accountability from a government led by his own party to explain inaction against corruption charges against the BJP. But there could be more here than meets the eye

Congress in-fight in Rajasthan a fight for chair, says Vasundhara Raje

Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje on Saturday said the fight between Sachin Pilot and Ashok Gehlot is a fight for chair and the people of the state are suffering because of it. Referring to the tussle between Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot, Raje said Gehlot accuses BJP of taking over other governments, but the truth is that the governments he formed in 2008 and 2018 were also formed by manipulation. The Gehlot government was in minority then and it is in minority now, she said. "The MLAs of his party are against him, his ministers keep talking about something or the other in protest every day," said the BJP leader while addressing the 'Booth Maha Sammelan' in Bharatpur in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Corruption is rampant and atrocities on Dalits and women are high in the state, and so is unemployment, Raje said. Pilot recently held a daylong fast demanding action from the Gehlot government in the alleged ..

Gehlot filling Cong coffers with money, Pilot's turn will not come: Shah

Targeting the Congress in Rajasthan over infighting, Union home minister Amit Shah on Saturday claimed the party will always give precedence to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot over Sachin Pilot as his contribution is higher in filling its coffers with the "corruption" money from the state. "Pilot sits on dharna on any pretext but his number will not come because his contribution in filling the coffers of Congress party is less and Gehlot's contribution is higher," Shah said while addressing booth-level party workers meeting in Bharatpur. Gehlot has made the Rajasthan government an "'adda' (hub) of corruption and has looted the state. This money of corruption has gone to the coffers of the Congress party, the BJP leader alleged. On the acquittal of the accused in the 2008 Jaipur bomb blast case, Shah alleged that the Congress government did not present proper arguments in the high court due to vote bank politics. The government is doing vote bank politics on the deaths of blast victims,

One should stand like rock in difficult circumstances: Vasundhra Raje

Amid the ongoing political tussle in Rajasthan, former chief minister Vasundhara Raje on Thursday said one should stand like a rock in difficult circumstances. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader made the remark at a religious gathering. Without naming anyone or referring to any context, Raje said one should have faith in God, then no one can harm you. "Stand like a rock in difficult circumstances. Have faith in God and the ability to fight in yourself, then no one can harm you," she added. Through a story of two devotees, Raje also concluded that no matter how much one hatches conspiracy, the true one emerges victorious. She later tweeted, "We are not concerned about them, they are concerned about us," saying that 'Sudarshan Chakradhari' is her protector. Raje's statements assume significance amid the ongoing political situation in Congress-ruled Rajasthan where the party leader Sachin Pilot has opened a front against Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot while accusing him of not tak

Rajasthan Cong in-charge Randhawa meets Rahul over Gehlot-Pilot issue

Congress in-charge of Rajasthan, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, met senior party leader Rahul Gandhi here on Thursday, two days after Sachin Pilot observed a fast in Jaipur

Movement against corruption will continue: Sachin Pilot after ending fast

As he ended his daylong fast demanding action from his own government over cases of alleged corruption during the BJP term, senior Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Tuesday said his movement against graft will continue. He was speaking to reporters after ending the fast at the Shaheed Smarak here. Pilot sat on the fast from 11 am to 4 pm. "We had assured people that effective action will be taken against corruption by the former BJP government in the state. I wanted the Congress government to take action against the corruption by the former BJP government," he said. "This movement against corruption will continue," Pilot added.

As Pilot sits on fast, Gehlot releases video of 2030 vision for Rajasthan

As senior Congress Sachin Pilot began his daylong fast against his own party-led government in Rajasthan on Tuesday, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot released a video portraying his vision to take the state to the top by 2030. "I have decided that I have to make Rajasthan the top state by 2030. To realise this dream, the last four budgets and this year's 'Bachat, Rahat and Badhat' budget, I have made schemes no other state has," the chief minister was heard saying in the video. Despite a warning issued to him by the Congress, Pilot, a former deputy chief minister of Rajasthan, began his daylong fast at the Shaheed Smarak here on Tuesday, demanding action in cases of alleged corruption related to the previous BJP government in the state led by Vasundhara Raje. In his video, Gehlot was heard speaking about various schemes of his government, including the Chiranjeevi Health Insurance Scheme, subsidised LPG cylinders and accident insurance of Rs 10 lakh among others. The chief minister said

Rajasthan: Sachin Pilot sits on daylong fast demanding action against graft

Despite a warning issued to him by the Congress, former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot sat on a daylong fast at the Shaheed Smarak here on Tuesday, demanding action in cases of alleged corruption related to the previous BJP government in the state led by Vasundhara Raje. Pilot reached the Shaheed Smarak, where his supporters were waiting for him. The former Union minister offered floral tributes to social reformer Jyotirao Phule on the occasion of his birth anniversary and sat on the fast. Before reaching the Shaheed Smarak, the Congress leader went to 22 godown circle from his residence and offered tributes to Phule at his statue.

Explained: Why is Sachin Pilot holding a day-long protest in Rajasthan

Congress has issued a stern warning to Pilot and said that the fast would amount to 'anti-party' activity

Cong says Pilot's fast against graft amounts to 'anti-party' activity

With Sachin Pilot firm on holding a fast to press his party-led government in Rajasthan for action against graft, the Congress Monday night issued a stern warning to him and said any such action on his part would amount to anti-party activity. Sources close to Pilot said he would go ahead with his daylong fast on Tuesday to press for action against corruption during the previous BJP government in Rajasthan. Taking strong objection to the proposed dharna by Pilot, All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge of the state Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said any such protest against its government clearly amounts to anti-party activity and goes against the party's interest. 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 his plan to hold a day-long fast on April 11 to press for action. The move by Pilot to open a new front against Gehlot amid the factional fighting is seen as an .

Dharna by Pilot would amount to anti-party activity, says Congress

Taking strong objection to the proposed dharna by former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot, the Congress on Monday evening said any such protest against its sitting government would amount to anti-party activity. 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 plans to hold a day-long fast on Tuesday to press for action. Sukhjinder Randhawa, the Congress general secretary in-charge for Rajasthan, said he talked to Pilot during the day and told him to raise issues at party platforms instead of going public against its own government. "I personally called Sachin Pilot and asked him to raise such matters at party platforms instead of going public like this," he told PTI when asked if he had discussed Pilot's proposed fast with him. Randhawa said any such action or fast is not justified and all matters should be raised within the party platforms and not publicly like

Wrong to say Gehlot govt not acting against corruption: Pawan Khera

A day after Congress leader Sachin Pilot launched a fresh attack on the Rajasthan government over corruption, the party on Monday sought to downplay his remarks and said it is "wrong" to say that the Ashok Gehlot dispensation is not acting against graft. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said a probe against senior BJP leader from Rajasthan Gajendra Singh Shekhawat is on in the Sanjeevani scam and the Union minister has also filed a defamation case against Chief Minister Gehlot. "A probe is underway on how the BJP conspired to topple our elected government in Rajasthan and tried to buy our MLAs," he told reporters here when asked about Pilot's remarks that the Congress government in Rajasthan was not against graft cases during the previous BJP government in the state. "It is wrong to say that a probe is not on, as an investigation is being carried out and if anyone has a complaint, he should bring it to the notice of the AICC in-charge," Khera said. The Congress spokesperson also s