In another act of defiance to mount pressure on Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and the Congress party's central leadership in the run-up to the state assembly election, party leader Sachin Pilot began his Jan Sangharsh Yatra from Ajmer on Thursday. Earlier, the Tonk MLA and former deputy chief minister held a day-long fast, targeting his own party's government in Rajasthan for inaction in alleged cases of corruption when the Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government was in power.
Before beginning the 125-km-long five-day yatra, Sachin Pilot addressed a public gathering on the Jaipur Highway in Ajmer and raised the issue of leaking question papers for recruitment in different government posts. Emphasising that the youths are the future of the state and country, the Congress leader said that his march was not against anyone, but against corruption and for protecting the interest of the youths.
He asked why a bulldozer was not run over the property of a Rajasthan Public Service Commission member arrested a few days ago in connection with the paper leak when the same action was done to another accused in the same case, news agency PTI reported.
In a video posted by news agency ANI, Pilot could be heard saying: "What we said about exemplary action, we have not been able to achieve. I still want there to be effective action. I have always wanted to stay connected with people's thinking and aspiration."
"No matter what anyone says, we have decided to hold this yatra because people believe in us. We are starting this yatra so that we are able to fulfill the expectations of the youth. We will walk on foot. Someone who is with the people, listens to them, and becomes their voice is the one who is chosen by them," he stressed.
Sachin Pilot & Ashok Gehlot's Rift
Even Sachin Pilot's remark, his public rift with Gehlot has been making headlines for more than two years.
In 2020, Pilot led a rebellion in the party for a change of leadership in the state. However, Gehlot managed to survive and Pilot and some of his loyalists were later ousted from the state cabinet.
The Rajasthan Chief Minister, while addressing a public programme in Dholpur on Sunday, claimed that he survived a revolt in 2020 by some Congress MLAs because BJP leaders Vasundhara Raje and Kailash Meghwal refused to support a conspiracy to topple an elected government through money power.
Following the remark, Pilot targeted Gehlot saying it appeared that the veteran Congressman's leader was Vasundhara Raje Scindia and not Sonia Gandhi. He had also rejected the charge that the dissidents – whom he had led -- took any money from the BJP.