Congress leader and former DCM of Rajasthan, Sachin Pilot, began his day-long fast in Jaipur on Tuesday afternoon despite a warning from the party high command that such an action goes against the party’s interest.
Pilot is holding a hunger strike against his own government in Rajasthan to seek action from Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot against corruption that was alleged to have occurred when Bharatiya Janata Party’s Vasundhara Raje Scindia was the chief minister of the state.
Months before Assembly elections in the state, the development once again exposed the rumblings within the Rajasthan unit of Congress that has seen multiple run-ins between the Gehlot and Pilot factions since the 2018 state polls.
VIDEO | Congress leader Sachin Pilot observes a one-day fast at Martyr's Memorial in Jaipur to press his party-led government in Rajasthan for action against corruption during the previous BJP government in the state. pic.twitter.com/cjlHb4Jbg4
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 11, 2023
Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, the official in charge of the Congress in the state, on Monday, warned Pilot against holding the fast, saying it would be considered an “anti-party activity”. In a statement, Randhawa said Pilot should discuss matters against his own government within the party forums, instead of raising them with the media or in public.
“I have been an AICC in charge [of Rajasthan] for the last five months and Pilot has never discussed this issue with me,” Randhawa claimed. “I am in touch with him and I still appeal for calm dialogue since he is an indisputable asset to the Congress party.”
Statement issued by Shri Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, AICC In charge of Rajasthan. pic.twitter.com/PMn8aDdu0O
— INC Sandesh (@INCSandesh) April 10, 2023
On Sunday, while announcing his plan to hold the day-long fast, Pilot had noted that the Congress had promised to conduct an inquiry into an alleged mines scam of Rs 45,000 crore during the previous BJP regime.
“With six seven months left for the elections, the opponents can spread illusions that there is some collusion,” Pilot had said at a press conference.
He was referring to the 2015 accusation raised by Congress that the Raje government, in violation of rules, had allocated 653 mines in the state in an arbitrary manner.
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