Movement against corruption will continue: Pilot after ending fast

Rajasthan Congress leader Sachin Pilot said that his movement against corruption will continue as he ended his day-long fast today, demanding action from his own government over cases of alleged corruption during the BJP term.

"We had assured people that effective action will be taken against corruption by the former BJP government in the state. I wanted the Congress government to take action against the corruption by the former BJP government," he said.

"Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa became in charge a few days ago. I had also talked to the earlier in-charge but this corruption issue is still there. We should speak against corruption and our fight against corruption will continue," said Sachin Pilot after ending the day-long fast.

"This movement against corruption will continue," Pilot added.

Taking strong objection to the proposed dharna by Pilot, All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge of the State Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said that any such protest against its government clearly amounts to anti-party activity and goes against the party's interest.

Sachin Pilot gets support from BJP, AAP, AIMIM

Rajasthan BJP leader Rajendra Rathore said Pilot's decision to hold the fast calling for "action on corruption" cases allegedly pending against the previous Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government will prove to be the last nail in the coffin of the ruling Congress government in the state.

"Sachin Pilot is giving an open challenge to the high command. His day-long fast will be the last nail in the coffin of the Congress government. The Congress has lost its hold across the country," Rathore told ANI.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi also backed Pilot saying, the Congress's stance on the matter sent out the message that the party was not serious about fighting corruption.

"Either Congress government or BJP government, (they are) two sides of the same coin. Both encouraged corruption. That's why you see that an ex-deputy chief minister is going to protest againt his own government. What message goes out with this? The message that goes out is that the Congress or BJP are not serious about (fighting) corruption," the Hyderabad MP told news agency PTI.

The Aam Aadmi Party also came out in support of Pilot's protest. "So corrupt that a highly educated young leader, Sachin Pilot, is sitting on a hunger strike against corruption today," AAP election in-charge for Rajasthan, Vinay Mishra tweeted on Tuesday.

Rajasthan CM Gehlot to hold cabinet meeting tomorrow

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is likely to hold a cabinet meeting on Wednesday as Sachin Pilot began his day-long hunger strike today against his own government over inaction against corruption during the previous BJP government in the state.

Pilot on Sunday had alleged that the Gehlot government has failed to investigate cases of alleged corruption during the BJP rule in Rajasthan and announced his plan to hold a day-long fast on April 11 to press for action.

The move by Pilot to open a new front against Gehlot amid the factional fighting is seen as an attempt to pressure the party high command to resolve the leadership issue ahead of the year-end polls.

Randhawa said he talked to Pilot during the day and told him to raise issues at party platforms instead of going public against its own government. "Pilot's day-long fast is against the party's interests. If there is any issue with his own government, it can be discussed in party forums instead of in the media and public," Randhawa said in a statement.

Randhawa said he has been an AICC in-charge for the last five months and Pilot never discussed the issue with him. "This is clear anti-party activity. I am in touch with him and I still appeal for calm and dialogue since he is an indisputable asset to the Congress," Randhawa said.

Bid to sabotage Gehlot's work: Ramlal Jat

Meanwhile, State's Revenue Minister Ramlal Jat on Monday asked the party workers to not give support to those who are trying to sabotage the work done by the Gehlot government. Without naming anyone, Jat said that those in the race to the CM post should think that it is the party high command who made Gehlot the Chief Minister of Rajasthan.

Pilot vs Gehlot feud

The feud between Congress leaders Sachin Pilot and Ashok Gehlot is not new. The infighting saw an ugly phase when CM Gehlot accused Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Pilot of conniving to topple his government in 2020.

Rajasthan police issued notices to Pilot to record his statement in connection with the alleged attempts to "topple" the Congress government. This became a major flashpoint when Pilot showed first signs of rebellion.

Pilot skipped two crucial meetings called by CM Gehlot and stayed put at a hotel in Manesar along with 18 MLAs in his camp amid reports that he is in talks with the BJP. Later, the Congress sacked Pilot as the Rajasthan Deputy CM and the State party chief while two ministers belonging to the his camp were dropped from the ministry.

Gehlot's 'gaddar' (traitor) remark against Pilot too had sparked a row last year. Since then, Rajasthan Congress has seen several bouts of the never-ending Pilot vs Gehlot tussle.