Rajasthan Tussle: Sachin Pilot Says Won’t Compromise on His Demands from Gehlot Govt

Days after the Congress leadership speculated that tussle was continuing in its Rajasthan unit, Sachin Pilot on Wednesday made it clear that he would not heed his demands to the Ashok Gehlot government.

On a tour of his Tonk assembly constituency, the dissident Congress leader indicated that it was the last day before the ultimatum given to Gehlot expired.

“So let’s see what happens tomorrow,” he told reporters.

The tussle between the chief minister and his former deputy escalated a few weeks ago after Pilot observed a day-long fast demanding action against “corruption” by the state government during the previous BJP tenure in the state.

And later concluding the five-day foot march, he said this and his two other demands must be met by the end of this month or else he will launch a state-wide agitation.

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and former party president Rahul Gandhi met the two leaders from Rajasthan on Monday. The party said that both of them have agreed to work unitedly.

But the pilot in Tonk indicated that he was firm on his stand.

He said, ‘I want to say again that the issues I had raised, especially the issue of corruption…widespread corruption and loot in the previous BJP regime…action has to be taken on them.

Referring to the cancellation of government jobs exams after the paper leak, Pilot said, “I think there is no possibility of any compromise as far as getting justice to the youth is concerned.”

“I had said on May 15 that the state government should act on issues of corruption by the BJP government and the youth,” he said, reminding that it was the “last day of the month”.

Pilot said that he is waiting for action from the Gehlot government.

“The day before yesterday talks were held in Delhi. They (leadership) said that it is the responsibility of the state government to take action. So, let’s see what happens tomorrow,” he said.

The Congress on Monday tried to show that all is well with its Rajasthan unit, where the two leaders have been at loggerheads over the leadership ever since the party government came to power.

There were suggestions that the party had worked out a formula to get leaders from both the states to work together and contest the assembly elections later in the year together.

Pilot said that for the better functioning of the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC), it is necessary to fill the vacant posts.

He said that during the preparation of competitive examinations, the youth living in rented houses face problems due to paper leak. Hence the candidates should get financial compensation in such situations, he said.

Referring to the victory of the Congress in the Karnataka assembly elections, he said the BJP lost because it repeatedly “betrayed” the people.

“They talk about double engines. But now those engines have started seizing up,” said the pilot. The BJP uses the “double engine” analogy to claim that development happens when it is in power both in the state and at the Centre.

Pilot said the BJP rule in Karnataka was corrupt and the Congress accused it of having a “40 per cent commission” government. People agreed with it and voted for the Congress, he claimed.

Concluding his five-day ‘Jan Sangharsh Yatra’ in Jaipur, Pilot put forward three demands – reconstitution of the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC), compensation to youths affected by the exam paper leak, and a high-level inquiry into the allegations Previous Vasundhara Raje of corruption against the government.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI,