‘Will continue to raise voice..’ says Sachin Pilot
3 min read 12 Jun 2023, 06:36 AM ISTDespite speculation, Sachin Pilot did not make any declaration regarding the creation of a new political outfit.
PremiumCongress leader Sachin Pilot on Sunday said he will persist in speaking out against "injustice" and "not go back" in fulfilling the commitments he made to the people, particularly in combating corruption, as their trust is the “biggest asset" for him.
Addressing a rally in Dausa after attending a prayer meeting on his father and Congress leader Rajesh Pilot’s death anniversary, the Tonk MLA said, “I will continue to fight against corruption and injustice. I will not go back on the promises I made to the people. Prime ministers and chief ministers come and go. What remains is people’s trust. People’s trust, promises made to them and credibility are the biggest assets in politics."
Pilot also said that he has not put forward his demands to the government to “defame someone", in an apparent reference to chief minister Ashok Gehlot with whom he has been locked in a power tussle since 2018.
He added: “I am not after any post. I am for (upholding) people’s trust. In 20-25 years of my political career, I have done nothing to break this trust. And I don’t want you to lessen the trust you have on me."
Despite speculation, Sachin Pilot did not make any declaration regarding the creation of a new political outfit.
Sachin Pilot, a former deputy chief minister, is urging the state government to take action against alleged corruption during the previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) regime led by Vasundhara Raje. He is also calling for the reconstitution of the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) and compensation for individuals affected by leaked job exam papers.
In April, he staged a day-long fast to highlight these demands, despite criticism from Congress in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, who claimed that the protest was against the party's interests.
In anticipation of the upcoming assembly elections in the state, Congress leader Sachin Pilot had warned of initiating a statewide agitation if his demands were not fulfilled by the end of May.
As per a report on June 9, the Congress party was considering offering Sachin Pilot a more significant role in the upcoming assembly elections campaign. There were discussions of potentially appointing him as the head of a panel responsible for overseeing the party's endeavors to retain power in the state, in an effort to showcase unity within the party.
Sachin Pilot said he is not putting forward his demands to malign anyone. “If there is something lacking in our governance then without blaming others we should rectify it. I didn’t put forward my demands to defame someone...raising your voice is very important in politics," he said.
Reflecting on his previous experiences serving in both the Union and state cabinets, Sachin Pilot remarked: “I got a chance to work in the government. I raised issues while I was in the government. I have always raised my voice against injustice."He added: “Helping the youngsters and the needy will not make us go bankrupt. We should always help them. If we have raised any demand, then it is for the people. I don’t care about posts, people’s trust is more important to me."
With just months to go for the assembly elections, the Congress leadership met Gehlot and Sachin Pilot separately on May 29 before calling both leaders for a meeting. After the meeting, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said: “Gehlot and Sachin Pilot – both are in agreement that the Congress party has to go together and fight the elections unitedly".
Several Rajasthan ministers and MLAs, including Hemaram Chaudhary, Pratap Singh Khachariyawas, Omprakash Hudla, Rakesh Pareek, Ramniwas Gawariya, Mukesh Bhakar, Indraj Gurjar, Deependra Singh, Murari Lal Meena, GR Khatana, PR Meena, Parsadi Lal Meena, Mamta Bhupesh, Brijendra Ola, Rajendra Guda, and Suresh Modi, participated in the rally held in Dausa.