Jaipur: Breaking silence on more than a month-long political turmoil of Rajasthan Congress, former Deputy CM of the state Sachin Pilot attacked Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday.
Taking a jibe at the way PM Modi praised Gehlot in Mangarh on Tuesday, Pilot said that Modi had praised Ghulam Nabi Azad in the same way, everyone knows what happened later.
The praise 'should not be taken so lightly', says Pilot
Talking to the media in Jaipur, Pilot said ‘the praise given by the Prime Minister yesterday, I think, is a very interesting development. The Prime Minister praised Ghulam Nabi Azad inside the Parliament House, and we all have seen what happened after that. It should not be taken so lightly.’
On the delay in action on three leaders for alleged indiscipline on September 25th in the matter of calling a parallel Congress Legislator Party (CLP) meeting, Pilot said, ‘The CLP meeting was called on September 25th but it could not take place and a parallel meeting was convened. CM apologised for this to Sonia Gandhi. Notices were given to 3 people and they have sent their replies. Quick decisions should be taken on notice as we are a disciplined party. The law and discipline apply to all.’
KC Venugopal to take decision on changing CM
On the question of changing the CM in the state, Pilot said, ‘party organisational general secretary KC Venugopal had said that a decision will be taken on it soon. We are all busy with elections, and soon the announcement of the Gujarat elections will also be made. The matter of discipline is also in the notice of Venugopal and action should be taken on it soon.
Pilot admitted that now only 13 months were left for the next election and AICC will decide who has to sit on which post, and what responsibility has to be given. He said, ‘now the time has come to clear the situation about Rajasthan but we are in the midst of two important elections but AICC will take the decision.'
Notably, On Tuesday, in Mangarh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said to Gehlot that he is the senior most CM and we had worked together. There are reports that CM Ashok Gehlot and PM Modi had a private discussion in Mangarh yesterday for about 10 minutes.
Pilot's first direct attack on Gehlot
It is to mention here that Sachin Pilot has made a direct attack on Gehlot for the first time. Till now only his supporters were attacking the Gehlot camp. This statement has come at a time when action is awaited against the leaders responsible for the political uproar and it seems that now the round of rhetoric will intensify in the party.
In the meantime, other leaders of the Pilot camp have also become vocal. Minister of State for Rural Development, Rajendra Gudha has demanded to convene a meeting of the legislature party soon to decide on the change of the chief minister in Rajasthan. He said 'Our organisation general secretary KC Venugopal had said that in a day or two they will decide the Rajasthan CM and a CLP meeting that is to be convened, but it is more than a month now.’ ‘ All I have to say is that it is a question of the credibility of the high command. The decision should now be taken soon,’ added Gudha.
