Associated with Rajasthan when BJP wasn’t even born, says Sachin Pilot

JAIPUR: PCC chief Sachin Pilot on Friday said that he has been associated with Rajasthan since the age of two-and-a-half years, while chief minister Vasundhara Raje arrived in the state when she was around 20 or 22 years old.
Pilot was responding to BJP calling him an outsider for Rajasthan. Outgoing panchayati raj minister Rajendra Rathore even addressed a press conference on the matter last month. Pilot had been maintaining distance from the unwarranted controversy so far but the question was again posed to him at Friday’s press conference.

In a sharp reply, Pilot said, “I have been associated with the pious land of Rajasthan since the days when BJP was not even born. I was two-and-half years then. My father was a fighter pilot and was posted at several places. My sister was born in Hyderabad and I was born in a military hospital.” He added, “Where Raje was born is known to all. L K Advani was born in Pakistan. So, people raising the ‘outsider’ issue, better not question me.”

Pilot was in the city for a few hours to launch party’s online drive to seek people’s suggestions for preparing the state election manifesto. The party is seeking online feedback from masses to draft an issue-based and public-oriented manifesto, Pilot said. He added that the promises made in party’s manifesto will be based on ground realities and will offer practical solutions to the issues.

People have been asked to give suggestions through WhatsApp, video calling and SMS on a toll free number 9911448200. The service will be available till November 8. Manifesto committee chairman Harish Choudhary said, people’s participation was important to reflect their aspirations. Pilot said, the party would run campaign on social media and prepare a report card of the BJP government, taking feedback from the people.