In a bid to win popular trust and to live up to its commitment of bringing to account corruption of the previous Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government, Rajasthan’s former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot announced that he will sit on a one-day fast against corruption on Tuesday. He has demanded that the Gehlot government act against the “proof-substantiated” corruption of the previous administration. The state is gearing for Assembly elections later this year.
While critics see this as widening of the already developed fissures between Pilot and CM Gehlot, party sources indicate that the move has been aligned to endorse greater confidence in the grand old party. According to Pilot: “It was necessary to assure people that the Congress government was acting on its statements and promises made before the 2018 Assembly elections. Action must be taken against excise mafia, illegal mining, land encroachment and the Lalit Modi affidavit case.”
The young Gujjar leader played old videos of Gehlot accusing Ms Raje of corruption and misrule. In a step further, he said that the Congress government had evidence against the former BJP government but had not acted on it.
“We cannot go into the elections with these promises unfulfilled. We have evidence. We should have acted. We should investigate. We are going into elections and will be answerable to the people,” he added.
Notably, Pilot’s announcement against corruption comes at a time when the Congress is gearing up for the upcoming local body elections and Assembly by-polls in Rajasthan.
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