News Analysis India

Tag: Sachin Pilot

  • Gehlot, Pilot supporters come to blows, poster war erupts

    Express News Service

    JAIPUR:   The Congress infighting in Rajasthan has taken an ugly turn as supporters of CM Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot thrashed each other on Thursday at a party gathering in Ajmer. The clash occurred before Amrita Dhawan, the national secretary of Congress and co-in-charge of Rajasthan was to hold a programme in the city to gather feedback from the party workers.

    Sources said Vijay Jain, the city Congress chief and a member of the Pilot faction, made all the arrangements for Dhawan’s programme. The situation worsened when Dharmendra Rathore, the RTDC president closely associated with Gehlot, arrived with his supporters, leading to a scuffle between the two groups.

    As the two groups scuffled, Amrita Dhawan decided to postpone the party programme. Even before the meeting here in Ajmer, a dispute arose between pro-Pilot workers and the Gehlot faction. The rival sides created a ruckus in front of the MLAs, with several party workers involved in abusive scuffles and fisticuffs forcing the police to intervene.

    Bhim Singh, a village Congress worker, was reportedly beaten up. Though some workers tried to pacify the rival factions, tempers remained high and sloganeering continued unabated. In addition to the altercation, both factions of the state Congress have been engaging in an endless war of words. Sanyam Lodha, an independent MLA and advisor to the Chief Minister, targeted Sachin Pilot’s Jan Sangharsh Yatra. Criticising him for raising the issues of paper leaks and corruption during the BJP rule in an election year, Lodha accused Pilot of seeking martyrdom and claimed that “his movement would have no political impact.”

    Lodha said Pilot and his team never supported him when he raised the same issues regarding BJP’s alleged scams during the past five years. Lodha dismissed the people associated with Pilot as “sponsored groups” and stated that “nobody takes him seriously any longer.”

    Meanwhile, a poster in Jodhpur, CM Gehlot’s home district, featuring Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Sachin Pilot has sparked a furore. These posters suggest a nexus between Pilot and Shekhawat. “The public demands an answer from Pilot regarding the Sanjeevani scam” is the direct message depicted in the poster. Congress’ district spokesperson Bhakar Ram Vishnoi, who put up the posters, criticised Pilot for remaining silent on the scam involving crores of rupees of public funds.

    The rift between Gehlot and Pilot groups is deepening with each passing day as elections in Rajasthan are now barely six months away. Pilot is in no mood to relent and has warned the Gehlot government that it must act by May 30.  He has announced publicly that if his demands are not accepted, he will launch a bigger movement in the state especially since his supporters are also seething in anger.

    JAIPUR:   The Congress infighting in Rajasthan has taken an ugly turn as supporters of CM Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot thrashed each other on Thursday at a party gathering in Ajmer. The clash occurred before Amrita Dhawan, the national secretary of Congress and co-in-charge of Rajasthan was to hold a programme in the city to gather feedback from the party workers.

    Sources said Vijay Jain, the city Congress chief and a member of the Pilot faction, made all the arrangements for Dhawan’s programme. The situation worsened when Dharmendra Rathore, the RTDC president closely associated with Gehlot, arrived with his supporters, leading to a scuffle between the two groups.

    As the two groups scuffled, Amrita Dhawan decided to postpone the party programme. Even before the meeting here in Ajmer, a dispute arose between pro-Pilot workers and the Gehlot faction. The rival sides created a ruckus in front of the MLAs, with several party workers involved in abusive scuffles and fisticuffs forcing the police to intervene.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Bhim Singh, a village Congress worker, was reportedly beaten up. Though some workers tried to pacify the rival factions, tempers remained high and sloganeering continued unabated. In addition to the altercation, both factions of the state Congress have been engaging in an endless war of words. Sanyam Lodha, an independent MLA and advisor to the Chief Minister, targeted Sachin Pilot’s Jan Sangharsh Yatra. Criticising him for raising the issues of paper leaks and corruption during the BJP rule in an election year, Lodha accused Pilot of seeking martyrdom and claimed that “his movement would have no political impact.”

    Lodha said Pilot and his team never supported him when he raised the same issues regarding BJP’s alleged scams during the past five years. Lodha dismissed the people associated with Pilot as “sponsored groups” and stated that “nobody takes him seriously any longer.”

    Meanwhile, a poster in Jodhpur, CM Gehlot’s home district, featuring Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Sachin Pilot has sparked a furore. These posters suggest a nexus between Pilot and Shekhawat. “The public demands an answer from Pilot regarding the Sanjeevani scam” is the direct message depicted in the poster. Congress’ district spokesperson Bhakar Ram Vishnoi, who put up the posters, criticised Pilot for remaining silent on the scam involving crores of rupees of public funds.

    The rift between Gehlot and Pilot groups is deepening with each passing day as elections in Rajasthan are now barely six months away. Pilot is in no mood to relent and has warned the Gehlot government that it must act by May 30.  He has announced publicly that if his demands are not accepted, he will launch a bigger movement in the state especially since his supporters are also seething in anger.

  • Sachin Pilot compares Rajasthan with Karnataka, asks Gehlot govt to fulfil promise on ‘corruption’

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: Dissident Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Monday cited his party’s victory in the Karnataka Assembly polls to push for action by the Ashok Gehlot government over alleged corruption during the previous BJP rule in Rajasthan.

    As the assembly polls approach in Rajasthan, the former deputy chief minister mounted pressure on Chief Minister Gehlot and the party’s top leadership with a five-day yatra which ended Monday with a big rally in Jaipur.

    In an effort to corner Gehlot, Pilot has been demanding action over accusations of corruption made by the Congress ahead of the Rajasthan polls in 2018.

    In an interview with PTI before the Jaipur rally, he compared the situation now in Karnataka, where the Congress has swept the assembly polls, with that in Rajasthan in 2018.

    “We levelled allegations of corruption against the BJP government in Karnataka. The Congress has got a mandate there and if no action against corruption by the (BJP’s) Bommai government is taken, will people listen to us after five years?” he said.

    “This is the situation here in Rajasthan. So I want action taken on this,” he added.

    Pilot’s argument is that the Congress levelled corruption charges against the BJP government of Vasundhara Raje ahead of the 2018 elections, and people expected it to act on the issue once it came to power.

    He asked how he could be wrong in talking about corruption that took place during the term of the previous BJP government in the state.

    Pilot, who is locked in a leadership tussle with Gehlot in the state, said he will continue to raise the issue in the future as well.

    At the rally later, he was more categorical.

    He threatened to launch a major agitation if his demands are not met by the month-end.

    About 15 Congress MLAs shared the dais with him in the show of strength.

    In 2018 the party’s top leadership faced in Rajasthan a dilemma of the kind it encounters in Karnataka where it is forced to pick between two CM aspirants — D K Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah.

    The party had then gone with Gehlot, disappointing Pilot who claimed to have led the Congress to victory as the president of the state unit.

    Pilot said when Gehlot was given the opportunity by the party to run the state government for the first time in 1998 he was just 47 or 48 years old, and veteran Congress leaders of that time followed the party discipline.

    Pilot (45) was possibly alluding to the argument that he is too young to become the chief minister.

    He also criticised Gehlot loyalist and minister Shanti Dhariwal’s recent remark that the CM has shown several big leaders their place.

    Reacting to Gehlot’s recent remark that he never boasted about how he won 156 seats for the Congress in 1998, Pilot said no one can boast or take credit for something like this.

    It is the party that contests elections and votes are given on policies and principles, he said.

    When asked about the state government schemes, Pilot said, “A good budget comes, good announcements are made, good policy is made. But why don’t we get the votes? It is the reality and the bitter truth.”

    He said he has raised several issues on party platforms to ensure this doesn’t happen in the coming Rajasthan elections.

    Pilot has been asking the party to resolve “issues” he had raised in 2020 when he and 18 other Congress MLAs revolted against Gehlot’s leadership.

    When asked about reports that he has decided to quit the Congress if issues concerning him are not addressed, Pilot called it speculation created by the media.

    He said the Congress party got huge support in the 2018 elections on the promise that it will take action on “corruption” by the then Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government.

    But no action was taken, he said.

    So he wrote letters to the CM for one and a half years, and then held a one-day fast in Jaipur last month.

    On party leaders calling his foot march from Ajmer to Jaipur a “personal” yatra, the leader said the issues raised by him got huge support from the public.

    “People are coming together on these issues despite the scorching heat, they are walking with me. The support one can see on the road is the support for the issues which I am raising,” he said.

    At the rally, he gave the Gehlot government an ultimatum to agree to three demands, including a high-level probe into “corruption” by the BJP government.

    The dissident leader also demanded the reconstitution of the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) over exam paper leaks, and compensation for aspirants who suffered due to this.

    JAIPUR: Dissident Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Monday cited his party’s victory in the Karnataka Assembly polls to push for action by the Ashok Gehlot government over alleged corruption during the previous BJP rule in Rajasthan.

    As the assembly polls approach in Rajasthan, the former deputy chief minister mounted pressure on Chief Minister Gehlot and the party’s top leadership with a five-day yatra which ended Monday with a big rally in Jaipur.

    In an effort to corner Gehlot, Pilot has been demanding action over accusations of corruption made by the Congress ahead of the Rajasthan polls in 2018.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    In an interview with PTI before the Jaipur rally, he compared the situation now in Karnataka, where the Congress has swept the assembly polls, with that in Rajasthan in 2018.

    “We levelled allegations of corruption against the BJP government in Karnataka. The Congress has got a mandate there and if no action against corruption by the (BJP’s) Bommai government is taken, will people listen to us after five years?” he said.

    “This is the situation here in Rajasthan. So I want action taken on this,” he added.

    Pilot’s argument is that the Congress levelled corruption charges against the BJP government of Vasundhara Raje ahead of the 2018 elections, and people expected it to act on the issue once it came to power.

    He asked how he could be wrong in talking about corruption that took place during the term of the previous BJP government in the state.

    Pilot, who is locked in a leadership tussle with Gehlot in the state, said he will continue to raise the issue in the future as well.

    At the rally later, he was more categorical.

    He threatened to launch a major agitation if his demands are not met by the month-end.

    About 15 Congress MLAs shared the dais with him in the show of strength.

    In 2018 the party’s top leadership faced in Rajasthan a dilemma of the kind it encounters in Karnataka where it is forced to pick between two CM aspirants — D K Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah.

    The party had then gone with Gehlot, disappointing Pilot who claimed to have led the Congress to victory as the president of the state unit.

    Pilot said when Gehlot was given the opportunity by the party to run the state government for the first time in 1998 he was just 47 or 48 years old, and veteran Congress leaders of that time followed the party discipline.

    Pilot (45) was possibly alluding to the argument that he is too young to become the chief minister.

    He also criticised Gehlot loyalist and minister Shanti Dhariwal’s recent remark that the CM has shown several big leaders their place.

    Reacting to Gehlot’s recent remark that he never boasted about how he won 156 seats for the Congress in 1998, Pilot said no one can boast or take credit for something like this.

    It is the party that contests elections and votes are given on policies and principles, he said.

    When asked about the state government schemes, Pilot said, “A good budget comes, good announcements are made, good policy is made. But why don’t we get the votes? It is the reality and the bitter truth.”

    He said he has raised several issues on party platforms to ensure this doesn’t happen in the coming Rajasthan elections.

    Pilot has been asking the party to resolve “issues” he had raised in 2020 when he and 18 other Congress MLAs revolted against Gehlot’s leadership.

    When asked about reports that he has decided to quit the Congress if issues concerning him are not addressed, Pilot called it speculation created by the media.

    He said the Congress party got huge support in the 2018 elections on the promise that it will take action on “corruption” by the then Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government.

    But no action was taken, he said.

    So he wrote letters to the CM for one and a half years, and then held a one-day fast in Jaipur last month.

    On party leaders calling his foot march from Ajmer to Jaipur a “personal” yatra, the leader said the issues raised by him got huge support from the public.

    “People are coming together on these issues despite the scorching heat, they are walking with me. The support one can see on the road is the support for the issues which I am raising,” he said.

    At the rally, he gave the Gehlot government an ultimatum to agree to three demands, including a high-level probe into “corruption” by the BJP government.

    The dissident leader also demanded the reconstitution of the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) over exam paper leaks, and compensation for aspirants who suffered due to this.

  • Public accepted issues raised during ‘Jan Sangharsh Yatra’: Sachin Pilot

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot on Sunday said the public has accepted the issues on which he started his “Jan Sangharsh Yatra” — corruption and government recruitment exam paper leaks.

    The yatra, on its fourth day on Sunday, covered a distance of around 25 km from Mehla town in Jaipur district to Mahapura, where the dissident Congress leader is scheduled to stay the night.

    Addressing his supporters from the top of a bus in Mahapura on the Ajmer highway, Pilot said the yatra will reach its destination in Jaipur Monday.

    “The public has accepted the issues on which the yatra was started — paper leaks and corruption — for the future of the youth and clean politics,” he said.

    “This is not about a person…the public is standing by the issues with which we started,” he said.

    Pilot also saluted the enthusiasm of his supporters and invited people to his public rally to be organised on the fifth and last day of his yatra near Kamla Nehru Nagar on Ajmer highway in Jaipur.

    Pilot started his yatra from Ajmer on the issues of corruption and government recruitment exam paper leaks.

    “The yatra is getting overwhelming response from people. Be it the youth or the elderly, all are attending the padayatra,” an aide of Pilot said.

    Pilot began the foot march from Ajmer on Thursday, challenging Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and the party’s top brass as assembly elections in Rajasthan approach.

    The yatra mounts further pressure on the party leadership as it hopes to retain the state in the elections at the end of the year.

    The march comes days after Gehlot accused the MLAs involved in the 2020 revolt of taking money from the BJP.

    Pilot and 18 other Congress MLAs had then sought a leadership change in Rajasthan.

    He was sacked as the party’s state unit president and the deputy chief minister.

    The two Congress strongmen in Rajasthan have been at loggerheads over the post of chief minister ever since the party formed the government in the state in 2018.

    JAIPUR: Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot on Sunday said the public has accepted the issues on which he started his “Jan Sangharsh Yatra” — corruption and government recruitment exam paper leaks.

    The yatra, on its fourth day on Sunday, covered a distance of around 25 km from Mehla town in Jaipur district to Mahapura, where the dissident Congress leader is scheduled to stay the night.

    Addressing his supporters from the top of a bus in Mahapura on the Ajmer highway, Pilot said the yatra will reach its destination in Jaipur Monday.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “The public has accepted the issues on which the yatra was started — paper leaks and corruption — for the future of the youth and clean politics,” he said.

    “This is not about a person…the public is standing by the issues with which we started,” he said.

    Pilot also saluted the enthusiasm of his supporters and invited people to his public rally to be organised on the fifth and last day of his yatra near Kamla Nehru Nagar on Ajmer highway in Jaipur.

    Pilot started his yatra from Ajmer on the issues of corruption and government recruitment exam paper leaks.

    “The yatra is getting overwhelming response from people. Be it the youth or the elderly, all are attending the padayatra,” an aide of Pilot said.

    Pilot began the foot march from Ajmer on Thursday, challenging Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and the party’s top brass as assembly elections in Rajasthan approach.

    The yatra mounts further pressure on the party leadership as it hopes to retain the state in the elections at the end of the year.

    The march comes days after Gehlot accused the MLAs involved in the 2020 revolt of taking money from the BJP.

    Pilot and 18 other Congress MLAs had then sought a leadership change in Rajasthan.

    He was sacked as the party’s state unit president and the deputy chief minister.

    The two Congress strongmen in Rajasthan have been at loggerheads over the post of chief minister ever since the party formed the government in the state in 2018.

  • Pilot slams Rajasthan CM Gehlot over Raje remark

    Express News Service

    JAIPUR:  The rift between two top Congress leaders in Rajasthan has further deepened, with Sachin Pilot hitting out at Ashok Gehlot for his remarks that Vasundhara Raje saved his government in 2020.

    At a press conference in Jaipur on Tuesday, Pilot said, “After listening to Ashok Gehlot’s speech at Dholpur on Sunday, it reflects that it is not Sonia Gandhi but Vasundhara Raje is his real leader.”

    Pilot announced his decision to begin a padyatra from Ajmer to Jaipur on May 11 in an attempt to expose the corrupt deals of the previous Raje government and paper leaks during the Gehlot rule. Elections are due in Rajasthan this year. Pilot claimed that his charge of nexus between Gehlot and Raje stands proven by the chief minister’s own statements that the BJP leader had saved his government. 

    On Sunday, Gehlot expressed his gratitude to former CM Vasundhara Raje, Kailash Meghwal and BJP MLA Shobharani for helping him prevent toppling the government, despite belonging to the BJP. While Gehlot claims that the BJP tried to topple his government, but at the same suggests that Raje saved his government, said Pilot, asking the CM to clarify his stance.

    Asserting his claim for the post of Chief Minister in Rajasthan, Pilot mentioned meeting various leaders, including the late Ahmed Patel, and the formation of a committee comprising Ajay Maken and KC Venugopal. Pilot claimed that the roadmap was devised after considering their perspectives.

    He along with his loyalist MLAs worked towards strengthening the Congress during the Rajya Sabha and Vidhan  Sabha polls.

    The progress made over the past two and a half years serves as a testament to their efforts, said Pilot and emphasised that they did not engage in any act of indiscipline. However, in September of last year when there was an opportunity to discuss the matter with the MLAs, Gehlot compelled some of them to resign.

    Pilot announced the padyatra, stating, “I have raised the issue of corruption, and will continue to raise it. There has been no response regarding Vasundhara Raje’s corruption and the paper leak. That’s why I have decided to embark on a 125km walk from the RPSC in Ajmer, where many papers were leaked, to Jaipur on May 11. I will interact with the public during this padyatra, which is aimed at fighting corruption and supporting the youth.”

    On his next political move, Pilot said, “some individuals want a weak Congress and a split in the party. They are attempting my character assassination. We will not allow this to happen. My stance on public issues will remain unchanged. The people are more important than any leader, and we will present all these matters to the public,” he said.

    JAIPUR:  The rift between two top Congress leaders in Rajasthan has further deepened, with Sachin Pilot hitting out at Ashok Gehlot for his remarks that Vasundhara Raje saved his government in 2020.

    At a press conference in Jaipur on Tuesday, Pilot said, “After listening to Ashok Gehlot’s speech at Dholpur on Sunday, it reflects that it is not Sonia Gandhi but Vasundhara Raje is his real leader.”

    Pilot announced his decision to begin a padyatra from Ajmer to Jaipur on May 11 in an attempt to expose the corrupt deals of the previous Raje government and paper leaks during the Gehlot rule. Elections are due in Rajasthan this year. Pilot claimed that his charge of nexus between Gehlot and Raje stands proven by the chief minister’s own statements that the BJP leader had saved his government. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    On Sunday, Gehlot expressed his gratitude to former CM Vasundhara Raje, Kailash Meghwal and BJP MLA Shobharani for helping him prevent toppling the government, despite belonging to the BJP. While Gehlot claims that the BJP tried to topple his government, but at the same suggests that Raje saved his government, said Pilot, asking the CM to clarify his stance.

    Asserting his claim for the post of Chief Minister in Rajasthan, Pilot mentioned meeting various leaders, including the late Ahmed Patel, and the formation of a committee comprising Ajay Maken and KC Venugopal. Pilot claimed that the roadmap was devised after considering their perspectives.

    He along with his loyalist MLAs worked towards strengthening the Congress during the Rajya Sabha and Vidhan  Sabha polls.

    The progress made over the past two and a half years serves as a testament to their efforts, said Pilot and emphasised that they did not engage in any act of indiscipline. However, in September of last year when there was an opportunity to discuss the matter with the MLAs, Gehlot compelled some of them to resign.

    Pilot announced the padyatra, stating, “I have raised the issue of corruption, and will continue to raise it. There has been no response regarding Vasundhara Raje’s corruption and the paper leak. That’s why I have decided to embark on a 125km walk from the RPSC in Ajmer, where many papers were leaked, to Jaipur on May 11. I will interact with the public during this padyatra, which is aimed at fighting corruption and supporting the youth.”

    On his next political move, Pilot said, “some individuals want a weak Congress and a split in the party. They are attempting my character assassination. We will not allow this to happen. My stance on public issues will remain unchanged. The people are more important than any leader, and we will present all these matters to the public,” he said.

  • Sachin Pilot says will continue to protest graft during former CM Raje’s regime

    Express News Service

    JAIPUR:  Senior Congress leader and former Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan Sachin Pilot has asserted he will continue with his agitation for action against the corruption of the previous BJP government.

    Speaking to the media in Jaipur on Sunday, Pilot said he will not back down from the stand he has taken against the state Congress government and has been “politely requesting” it to take action in corruption cases of the previous BJP government led by Vasundhara Raje.

    Pilot also remarked that despite his fast on April 11, no action has been taken in these cases. “Speaking the truth, raising voice against corruption and injustice, is among the values of the Congress party. Following these values, I observed a one-day fast on April 11. Today, it’s been two weeks, no action has been taken so far. So, again I politely request the government to fulfil the promises we had made to the people,” Pilot told reporters after offering prayers at Jaipur’s famous  Jharkhand Temple on Sunday.

    Pilot added that he greatly welcomes the action taken by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), which arrested several corrupt IAS, IPS, RAS and other officers. 

    He further said, “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 to 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.”

    ALSO READ | ‘We are all united’: Rajasthan Congress chief on Gehlot-Pilot issue

    Significantly, Pilot wondered how demanding action against corruption is being termed as an ‘anti-party activity’. Instead, he said that the September 25 incident when pro-Gehlot MLAs had boycotted the CLP meeting in Jaipur, was a virtual rebellion against Congress President Sonia Gandhi and the real damage to the party was due to that action of the MLAs last year.

    Pilot also raised questions over the inaction against the pro-Gehlot leaders who had 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? The answer lies with the party,” Pilot remarked as he once again asserted.

    Pilot also argued that it was unfair to call his fast ‘anti-party’ and said “this is the first time that even before an event took place, it was declared so.

    ALSO READ | AAP, RLP keep door open for Sachin Pilot

    JAIPUR:  Senior Congress leader and former Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan Sachin Pilot has asserted he will continue with his agitation for action against the corruption of the previous BJP government.

    Speaking to the media in Jaipur on Sunday, Pilot said he will not back down from the stand he has taken against the state Congress government and has been “politely requesting” it to take action in corruption cases of the previous BJP government led by Vasundhara Raje.

    Pilot also remarked that despite his fast on April 11, no action has been taken in these cases. “Speaking the truth, raising voice against corruption and injustice, is among the values of the Congress party. Following these values, I observed a one-day fast on April 11. Today, it’s been two weeks, no action has been taken so far. So, again I politely request the government to fulfil the promises we had made to the people,” Pilot told reporters after offering prayers at Jaipur’s famous  Jharkhand Temple on Sunday.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Pilot added that he greatly welcomes the action taken by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), which arrested several corrupt IAS, IPS, RAS and other officers. 

    He further said, “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 to 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.”

    ALSO READ | ‘We are all united’: Rajasthan Congress chief on Gehlot-Pilot issue

    Significantly, Pilot wondered how demanding action against corruption is being termed as an ‘anti-party activity’. Instead, he said that the September 25 incident when pro-Gehlot MLAs had boycotted the CLP meeting in Jaipur, was a virtual rebellion against Congress President Sonia Gandhi and the real damage to the party was due to that action of the MLAs last year.

    Pilot also raised questions over the inaction against the pro-Gehlot leaders who had 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? The answer lies with the party,” Pilot remarked as he once again asserted.

    Pilot also argued that it was unfair to call his fast ‘anti-party’ and said “this is the first time that even before an event took place, it was declared so.

    ALSO READ | AAP, RLP keep door open for Sachin Pilot

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

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: 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 the party would give chances to those who are popular among the public. “Those who go among them and serve them will get the ticket.”

    ALSO READ | AAP, RLP keep door open for Sachin Pilot

    The state assembly elections are due later this year.

    Last week, Pilot opened a front against chief minister Gehlot.

    Pilot said the Congress raised the issue of corruption when the party was in opposition during the BJP rule — from 2013 to 2018 — and promised in the 2018 assembly polls that action would be taken in the matter if the party forms the government in Rajasthan. However, no action was taken in over four years of the Congress government, he added.

    On this issue, he held a day-long dharna at Shaheed Smarak in Jaipur last week.

    AICC in charge for Rajasthan Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa called it an act against the party discipline. He also said that Pilot, who is an MLA, should have raised his demand for action in corruption cases in the Rajasthan Assembly, instead of holding the fast.

    With just a few months left for the assembly elections, the party held a one-on-one dialogue with MLAs and those who are supporting it and held a one-day workshop this week. Pilot skipped these programmes.

    However, on Thursday he went to a dharna here led by BJP’s Rajya Sabah MP Kirodi Lal Meena with the family members of a man who committed suicide, blaming Cabinet minister Mahesh Joshi and others for the extreme step. He demanded a fair investigation in the case.

    JAIPUR: 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.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “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 the party would give chances to those who are popular among the public. “Those who go among them and serve them will get the ticket.”

    ALSO READ | AAP, RLP keep door open for Sachin Pilot

    The state assembly elections are due later this year.

    Last week, Pilot opened a front against chief minister Gehlot.

    Pilot said the Congress raised the issue of corruption when the party was in opposition during the BJP rule — from 2013 to 2018 — and promised in the 2018 assembly polls that action would be taken in the matter if the party forms the government in Rajasthan. However, no action was taken in over four years of the Congress government, he added.

    On this issue, he held a day-long dharna at Shaheed Smarak in Jaipur last week.

    AICC in charge for Rajasthan Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa called it an act against the party discipline. He also said that Pilot, who is an MLA, should have raised his demand for action in corruption cases in the Rajasthan Assembly, instead of holding the fast.

    With just a few months left for the assembly elections, the party held a one-on-one dialogue with MLAs and those who are supporting it and held a one-day workshop this week. Pilot skipped these programmes.

    However, on Thursday he went to a dharna here led by BJP’s Rajya Sabah MP Kirodi Lal Meena with the family members of a man who committed suicide, blaming Cabinet minister Mahesh Joshi and others for the extreme step. He demanded a fair investigation in the case.

  • Congress denounces Pilot plan, says would amount to ‘anti-party activity’

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: 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 this.

    “Any such action would amount to anti-party activity,” he said.

    Randhawa said the two letters Pilot was referring to for action against graft by the previous Vasundhara Raje government have never been raised before him despite several talks and discussions.

    Sources close to Pilot said he will go ahead with his day-long fast on Tuesday to press for his demand for action against corruption during the previous BJP regime in Rajasthan and added that his fight is against graft under the Raje dispensation and not targeted at anyone else.

    Pilot has said he will observe the fast at Jaipur’s Shaheed Smarak on April 11 — the birth anniversary of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, who was from the Saini community to which Gehlot belongs.

    Sources said Pilot claimed that he would sit on a “maun vrat” and not speak against the government.

    The sources close to the former Rajasthan deputy chief minister also said that while Rahul Gandhi was fighting Adani over alleged corruption, 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.

    NEW DELHI: 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.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “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 this.

    “Any such action would amount to anti-party activity,” he said.

    Randhawa said the two letters Pilot was referring to for action against graft by the previous Vasundhara Raje government have never been raised before him despite several talks and discussions.

    Sources close to Pilot said he will go ahead with his day-long fast on Tuesday to press for his demand for action against corruption during the previous BJP regime in Rajasthan and added that his fight is against graft under the Raje dispensation and not targeted at anyone else.

    Pilot has said he will observe the fast at Jaipur’s Shaheed Smarak on April 11 — the birth anniversary of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, who was from the Saini community to which Gehlot belongs.

    Sources said Pilot claimed that he would sit on a “maun vrat” and not speak against the government.

    The sources close to the former Rajasthan deputy chief minister also said that while Rahul Gandhi was fighting Adani over alleged corruption, 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.

  • Rajasthan: Budget session in January sets off big buzz over withdrawal of resignations by Congress MLAs

    Express News Service

    JAIPUR: Ahead of the budget session of the Rajasthan assembly from January 23, a meeting between assembly Speaker CP Joshi and Congress state in-charge Sukhwinder Singh Randhawa has set off a big buzz that the resignations submitted by over 90 pro-Gehlot MLAs on 25th September are now being withdrawn.

    Sources in the party say that the reason for revoking resignations is the hearing in the Rajasthan High Court on the issue on January 2. The BJP has asked Speaker Joshi to accept the resignations which in effect will bring the Gehlot government to a minority. The plan to revoke the resignations is being described as a mockery of democracy by the opposition BJP.

    Over 90 MLAs of the Gehlot faction, who resigned after boycotting the Congress Legislature Party meeting on September 25, have now been asked to withdraw their resignations. The new in-charge Sukhjinder Randhawa, in a meeting with Assembly Speaker Dr CP Joshi, discussed how the dispute over resignations of the MLAs could be settled by citing the message of the Congress High Command.

    In the meeting with Joshi, he also wanted to know the status of resignations and the technical aspects of it. After a few days in Jaipur, Randhawa returned to Delhi after taking feedback from all party leaders.

    In contrast, the BJP is raising questions as to why no decision has been taken even after three months on the resignations by Congress MLAs. A petition was filed in the High Court on behalf of BJP MLA Rajendra Rathore, on which Speaker Joshi has asked to clarify the situation through a notice to his secretary by the next hearing of the case on January 2.

    The second reason for withdrawing the resignation is that the assembly session will start in Rajasthan on January 23. As soon as the budget session begins, the BJP will ask the speaker to clarify the position on the resignations. On the BJP’s demand, Speaker Joshi will have to give a ruling in the assembly and there is a possibility of the Congress and the government getting cornered on this issue. In such a situation, the resignations of all the MLAs are likely to be revoked before the budget session.

    On September 25, following the orders of the Congress high command, a meeting of the Legislature Party was called at the CM’s residence where a one-line resolution was to be passed giving the right of selection of the new CM to the high command. After boycotting that CLP meet, 91 Congress MLAs had voluntarily submitted their resignations to the Speaker.

    By resigning, the MLAs were trying to put pressure on the high command that if Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is removed from the post, then only one of the 102 MLAs of his faction should be made the Chief Minister and not Sachin Pilot. The pro-Gehlot MLAs had gone to Speaker Joshi and handed him their resignations. However, the speaker has, to date, neither accepted those resignations nor taken any action on them.

    These resignations became the biggest obstacle in the way of making Pilot the CM. It is believed that resignation politics in Rajasthan is almost over now as it has also become clear that CM Ashok Gehlot will present the budget. In such a situation, there is no scope for any leadership change and the resignations of MLAs will be withdrawn in the next few days.

    According to Vidhansabha sources, neither these resignations were received by the Vidhansabha office, nor is there any information about their withdrawal. Deputy Leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathore said that this is a mockery of democracy.

    “Once resignation is given, there is no provision to take it back. These MLAs are misleading the public. If the ministers had resigned, how their decisions are being implemented till now. The government did not have the confidence of the house. The ministers and MLAs should also return their salaries and allowances for this period. These Congress MLAs were not in a position to counter the points raised in the petition, that’s why the resignations have been withdrawn.”

    Just before Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra entered Rajasthan, the Congress high command had effected a reconciliation between CM Gehlot and Sachin Pilot, after which the yatra could pass off peacefully.

    Experts believe that due to the resignations, CM Gehlot has been able to get his desire to present the last budget of this government.

    But it is still a big question whether Gehlot will remain the CM after the budget.

    JAIPUR: Ahead of the budget session of the Rajasthan assembly from January 23, a meeting between assembly Speaker CP Joshi and Congress state in-charge Sukhwinder Singh Randhawa has set off a big buzz that the resignations submitted by over 90 pro-Gehlot MLAs on 25th September are now being withdrawn.

    Sources in the party say that the reason for revoking resignations is the hearing in the Rajasthan High Court on the issue on January 2. The BJP has asked Speaker Joshi to accept the resignations which in effect will bring the Gehlot government to a minority. The plan to revoke the resignations is being described as a mockery of democracy by the opposition BJP.

    Over 90 MLAs of the Gehlot faction, who resigned after boycotting the Congress Legislature Party meeting on September 25, have now been asked to withdraw their resignations. The new in-charge Sukhjinder Randhawa, in a meeting with Assembly Speaker Dr CP Joshi, discussed how the dispute over resignations of the MLAs could be settled by citing the message of the Congress High Command.

    In the meeting with Joshi, he also wanted to know the status of resignations and the technical aspects of it. After a few days in Jaipur, Randhawa returned to Delhi after taking feedback from all party leaders.

    In contrast, the BJP is raising questions as to why no decision has been taken even after three months on the resignations by Congress MLAs. A petition was filed in the High Court on behalf of BJP MLA Rajendra Rathore, on which Speaker Joshi has asked to clarify the situation through a notice to his secretary by the next hearing of the case on January 2.

    The second reason for withdrawing the resignation is that the assembly session will start in Rajasthan on January 23. As soon as the budget session begins, the BJP will ask the speaker to clarify the position on the resignations. On the BJP’s demand, Speaker Joshi will have to give a ruling in the assembly and there is a possibility of the Congress and the government getting cornered on this issue. In such a situation, the resignations of all the MLAs are likely to be revoked before the budget session.

    On September 25, following the orders of the Congress high command, a meeting of the Legislature Party was called at the CM’s residence where a one-line resolution was to be passed giving the right of selection of the new CM to the high command. After boycotting that CLP meet, 91 Congress MLAs had voluntarily submitted their resignations to the Speaker.

    By resigning, the MLAs were trying to put pressure on the high command that if Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is removed from the post, then only one of the 102 MLAs of his faction should be made the Chief Minister and not Sachin Pilot. The pro-Gehlot MLAs had gone to Speaker Joshi and handed him their resignations. However, the speaker has, to date, neither accepted those resignations nor taken any action on them.

    These resignations became the biggest obstacle in the way of making Pilot the CM. It is believed that resignation politics in Rajasthan is almost over now as it has also become clear that CM Ashok Gehlot will present the budget. In such a situation, there is no scope for any leadership change and the resignations of MLAs will be withdrawn in the next few days.

    According to Vidhansabha sources, neither these resignations were received by the Vidhansabha office, nor is there any information about their withdrawal. Deputy Leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathore said that this is a mockery of democracy.

    “Once resignation is given, there is no provision to take it back. These MLAs are misleading the public. If the ministers had resigned, how their decisions are being implemented till now. The government did not have the confidence of the house. The ministers and MLAs should also return their salaries and allowances for this period. These Congress MLAs were not in a position to counter the points raised in the petition, that’s why the resignations have been withdrawn.”

    Just before Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra entered Rajasthan, the Congress high command had effected a reconciliation between CM Gehlot and Sachin Pilot, after which the yatra could pass off peacefully.

    Experts believe that due to the resignations, CM Gehlot has been able to get his desire to present the last budget of this government.

    But it is still a big question whether Gehlot will remain the CM after the budget.

  • Everything will be resolved smoothly: Venugopal on Gehlot-Pilot tussle

    By PTI

    DAUSA: Amid an ongoing power tussle between Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his bete noire Sachin Pilot, AICC general secretary KC Venugopal on Friday said “everything will be resolved smoothly” and the party is very much united in the state.

    In an interview with PTI, Venugopal also exuded confidence that the Congress would win the Rajasthan assembly polls next year and return to power.

    His remarks come after a major row erupted last month following Gehlot’s comments that Pilot is a ‘gaddar’ (traitor) and cannot replace him.

    The remarks drew a sharp response from Pilot who had said it was unbecoming of Gehlot’s stature to use that kind of language and that such “mud-slinging” would not help at a time the focus should be on the yatra.

    Asked about the row and whether the differences between Gehlot and Pilot would be resolved, Venugopal, who is participating in the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra, said, “Everything will be resolved smoothly.”

    ” The party is very much united and working together, the AICC general secretary organisation said. We will win definitely, our chances are very bright,” he said referring to the Rajasthan Assembly polls next year.

    The escalation of the Gehlot-Pilot rift just ahead of the entry of yatra into the desert state had put the party in a spot but Venugopal’s visit to the state last week calmed tempers and in a show of unity both Pilot and Gehlot posed for the cameras along with the AICC general secretary.

    Talking about the yatra completing 100 days, Venugopal Friday said there is tremendous momentum for the foot march and people have been welcoming it everywhere.

    “The issues raised by this yatra are not political issues, they are issues concerning the people. The issue of unemployment, the entire youth of the country is disappointed, price rise is at its peak and the central government is misusing agencies to target people,” Venugopal said.

    The BJP’s divisive politics only for winning elections has created a big division in this country and at such a time the Congress is undertaking this massive yatra to unite people, he said.

    Asked if the yatra would yield electoral gains, Venugopal said this is not aimed at an electoral impact, but added that in the field, the yatra will definitely have an impact.

    “This yatra has electrified our entire cadre. Our workers are now charged. We are going for a massive follow up programme from January 26 onwards from booth level upwards. This will certainly have an impact on the coming elections,” he said.

    The yatra, which was launched on September 7 in Kanyakumari has traversed eight states —  Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and now, Rajasthan.

    It has seen participation from a cross-section of society, including film and TV celebrities such as Pooja Bhatt, Riya Sen, Sushant Singh, Swara Bhasker, Rashami Desai, Akanksha Puri and Amol Palekar.

    Besides participation from tinsel town celebrities, writers, military veterans, including former Navy chief admiral L Ramdas, Opposition leaders such as Shiv Sena’s Aaditya Thackeray and the NCP’s Supriya Sule, and former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan, have also joined the march at various points.

    DAUSA: Amid an ongoing power tussle between Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his bete noire Sachin Pilot, AICC general secretary KC Venugopal on Friday said “everything will be resolved smoothly” and the party is very much united in the state.

    In an interview with PTI, Venugopal also exuded confidence that the Congress would win the Rajasthan assembly polls next year and return to power.

    His remarks come after a major row erupted last month following Gehlot’s comments that Pilot is a ‘gaddar’ (traitor) and cannot replace him.

    The remarks drew a sharp response from Pilot who had said it was unbecoming of Gehlot’s stature to use that kind of language and that such “mud-slinging” would not help at a time the focus should be on the yatra.

    Asked about the row and whether the differences between Gehlot and Pilot would be resolved, Venugopal, who is participating in the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra, said, “Everything will be resolved smoothly.”

    ” The party is very much united and working together, the AICC general secretary organisation said. We will win definitely, our chances are very bright,” he said referring to the Rajasthan Assembly polls next year.

    The escalation of the Gehlot-Pilot rift just ahead of the entry of yatra into the desert state had put the party in a spot but Venugopal’s visit to the state last week calmed tempers and in a show of unity both Pilot and Gehlot posed for the cameras along with the AICC general secretary.

    Talking about the yatra completing 100 days, Venugopal Friday said there is tremendous momentum for the foot march and people have been welcoming it everywhere.

    “The issues raised by this yatra are not political issues, they are issues concerning the people. The issue of unemployment, the entire youth of the country is disappointed, price rise is at its peak and the central government is misusing agencies to target people,” Venugopal said.

    The BJP’s divisive politics only for winning elections has created a big division in this country and at such a time the Congress is undertaking this massive yatra to unite people, he said.

    Asked if the yatra would yield electoral gains, Venugopal said this is not aimed at an electoral impact, but added that in the field, the yatra will definitely have an impact.

    “This yatra has electrified our entire cadre. Our workers are now charged. We are going for a massive follow up programme from January 26 onwards from booth level upwards. This will certainly have an impact on the coming elections,” he said.

    The yatra, which was launched on September 7 in Kanyakumari has traversed eight states —  Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and now, Rajasthan.

    It has seen participation from a cross-section of society, including film and TV celebrities such as Pooja Bhatt, Riya Sen, Sushant Singh, Swara Bhasker, Rashami Desai, Akanksha Puri and Amol Palekar.

    Besides participation from tinsel town celebrities, writers, military veterans, including former Navy chief admiral L Ramdas, Opposition leaders such as Shiv Sena’s Aaditya Thackeray and the NCP’s Supriya Sule, and former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan, have also joined the march at various points.

  • Both leaders assets to Congress, says Rahul Gandhi on Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot

    By PTI

    INDORE: Amid the power tussle between Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Monday said both the leaders are assets to the party.

    Addressing a press conference near Indore, Gandhi, the Lok Sabha member from Wayanad in Kerala, also said the decision to contest again from Amethi would be taken after one or one-and-a-half years.

    “At present, my focus is on the Bharat Jodo Yatra,” he said.

    Union minister Smriti Irani had defeated Rahul Gandhi in his family’s bastion Amethi in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

    To a query on different statements being given by Rajasthan leaders Gehlot and Pilot amid their power tussle, he said, “It will not affect the yatra and both the leaders are assets to the Congress party.”

    Gehlot on Thursday told NDTV that Pilot is a ‘gaddar’ (traitor) who cannot replace him as he had revolted against Congress in 2020 and tried to topple the state government, drawing a sharp response from his former deputy who said such “mud-slinging” would not help.

    Some reporters also asked Gandhi whether he would like to contest again from Amethi if given an opportunity, as the road to power in Delhi goes via Uttar Pradesh and Prime Minister Narendra Modi also contested from Varanasi in UP.

    To this, Gandhi said, “I don’t want to give any headline to the media as at present my focus is on the Bharat Jodo Yatra. See, once again these are all attempts to distract from the main idea. You want newspapers to say tomorrow whether I will contest from Amethi or not,” Gandhi said.

    “I want the newspapers to write about the Bharat Jodo Yatra, the ideas and philosophy behind the yatra,” he said.

    “The answer to your question will come may be in a year or year-and-a-half,” he said.

    To a query on plans for solving the unemployment problem in the country, Gandhi said the main problem at present is that the entire wealth of the nation is confined in the hands of three-four industrialists.

    The Congress will focus on creating small scale enterprises to generate more employment opportunities in the country, he said.

    “I want the government to participate in education and health care and pump in more money in these sectors,” Gandhi said.

    The government should sense the voice of the people, he added.

    ALSO READ | Fighting Narendra Modi and RSS, but don’t harbor hate for them in my heart: Rahul Gandhi

    Gandhi also said his ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra, a mass contact initiative, was raising the voice of the nation.

    He claimed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) were not hearing the voice of the public and running the country by their “rigid structure”.

    The country should be run by the people’s sentiments, he said.

    On attacks over his attire and looks during the yatra, Gandhi said, “The problem with the BJP is that its spends thousands of crore to tarnish my image. But, the amount of money it would spend on tarnishing my image, I would get the same amount of strength as truth cannot be hidden. Personal attacks come as you fight against a big power. This shows that I am on the right path. The BJP’s personal attacks on me are my guru, which have taught me the right path,” he said.

    “I am gradually understanding the ideology of the BJP and the RSS,” he said.

    On the issue of Uniform Civil Code, he said, “Our direction is clear and their (BJP) direction is clear, and we are doing our work.”

    Gandhi also said he had made a detailed planning of the yatra earlier.

    But it did not materialise due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other reasons, he added.

    INDORE: Amid the power tussle between Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Monday said both the leaders are assets to the party.

    Addressing a press conference near Indore, Gandhi, the Lok Sabha member from Wayanad in Kerala, also said the decision to contest again from Amethi would be taken after one or one-and-a-half years.

    “At present, my focus is on the Bharat Jodo Yatra,” he said.

    Union minister Smriti Irani had defeated Rahul Gandhi in his family’s bastion Amethi in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

    To a query on different statements being given by Rajasthan leaders Gehlot and Pilot amid their power tussle, he said, “It will not affect the yatra and both the leaders are assets to the Congress party.”

    Gehlot on Thursday told NDTV that Pilot is a ‘gaddar’ (traitor) who cannot replace him as he had revolted against Congress in 2020 and tried to topple the state government, drawing a sharp response from his former deputy who said such “mud-slinging” would not help.

    Some reporters also asked Gandhi whether he would like to contest again from Amethi if given an opportunity, as the road to power in Delhi goes via Uttar Pradesh and Prime Minister Narendra Modi also contested from Varanasi in UP.

    To this, Gandhi said, “I don’t want to give any headline to the media as at present my focus is on the Bharat Jodo Yatra. See, once again these are all attempts to distract from the main idea. You want newspapers to say tomorrow whether I will contest from Amethi or not,” Gandhi said.

    “I want the newspapers to write about the Bharat Jodo Yatra, the ideas and philosophy behind the yatra,” he said.

    “The answer to your question will come may be in a year or year-and-a-half,” he said.

    To a query on plans for solving the unemployment problem in the country, Gandhi said the main problem at present is that the entire wealth of the nation is confined in the hands of three-four industrialists.

    The Congress will focus on creating small scale enterprises to generate more employment opportunities in the country, he said.

    “I want the government to participate in education and health care and pump in more money in these sectors,” Gandhi said.

    The government should sense the voice of the people, he added.

    ALSO READ | Fighting Narendra Modi and RSS, but don’t harbor hate for them in my heart: Rahul Gandhi

    Gandhi also said his ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra, a mass contact initiative, was raising the voice of the nation.

    He claimed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) were not hearing the voice of the public and running the country by their “rigid structure”.

    The country should be run by the people’s sentiments, he said.

    On attacks over his attire and looks during the yatra, Gandhi said, “The problem with the BJP is that its spends thousands of crore to tarnish my image. But, the amount of money it would spend on tarnishing my image, I would get the same amount of strength as truth cannot be hidden. Personal attacks come as you fight against a big power. This shows that I am on the right path. The BJP’s personal attacks on me are my guru, which have taught me the right path,” he said.

    “I am gradually understanding the ideology of the BJP and the RSS,” he said.

    On the issue of Uniform Civil Code, he said, “Our direction is clear and their (BJP) direction is clear, and we are doing our work.”

    Gandhi also said he had made a detailed planning of the yatra earlier.

    But it did not materialise due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other reasons, he added.