Sachin Pilot, a prominent leader of the Rajasthan Congress and a core committee member, has offered rare praise for the government led by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. He stated that the Congress government in Rajasthan has responded promptly to incidents of crime and that the law and order situation in the state is better compared to BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
Sachin Pilot and Ashok Gehlot had a well-publicized falling out in 2020 when Pilot, who was then the Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan, rebelled against Chief Minister Gehlot.
Despite previous criticism of the Gehlot government’s alleged inaction regarding “corruption” during Vasundhara Raje’s BJP government, Sachin Pilot’s defense of the Ashok Gehlot government was anticipated, as Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi mediated the tense relationship between the two leaders.
Pilot also took the opportunity to criticize the BJP-led central government, claiming that it misleads the public and uses religious rhetoric to gain power.
Responding to BJP leaders’ criticism of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who held a public meeting in Niwai, Tonk, on Sunday and was questioned for not visiting Rajasthan after incidents of crimes against women, Pilot argued that the opposition party is attempting to make law and order an issue as assembly elections approach in Rajasthan.
Pilot stated, “Whenever any incident has occurred, action has been taken, and the suspects have been apprehended within hours. Such incidents can happen anywhere, but we have taken immediate action.”
“We do our utmost to prevent such incidents. It is also essential to consider what is happening in other states. The crime rate is high in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, but BJP leaders are making it an issue here because assembly elections are approaching,” added the Tonk MLA.
Pilot also commented, “Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge should have been invited to the G20 gala dinner. If Kharge had been invited, the world would have seen that the country is united.” The G20 dinner was hosted by President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi, the venue for the G20 Summit of world leaders.
He went on to say, “Inflation is rising, industries are closing down. Airports, railways, power plants were sold at low prices. However, the central government is busy creating an issue over the country’s name. Both India and Bharat have existed since before.”
“They (BJP) have only one job, which is to mislead and incite people, talk about religion and caste to gain power, and chant ‘Ram-Ram,'” Sachin Pilot added.
