NEW DELHI: Former deputy chief minister of Rajasthan
Sachin Pilot is holding a day-long fast to press for action against corruption during the previous BJP government in Rajasthan.
This move is seen as an attempt to pressure the party high command to resolve the leadership issue ahead of the year-end polls.
The All India
Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge of the state Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said any such protest against its government amounts to anti-party activity and goes against the party's interest.
He has been in touch with Pilot, urging him to raise issues at party platforms instead of going public against its own government.
Sources close to Pilot said he would sit on a "maun vrat" and not speak against the government.
Congress cracks down on Sachin Pilot's fast, calls it ‘anti-party activity’
Here are the latest developments-
Sachin Pilot holds a fast to demand action against corruptionSachin Pilot is holding a day-long fast today to press for action against corruption during the previous BJP government in Rajasthan. He is observing the fast at Shaheed Smarak in Jaipur on the birth anniversary of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, a social reformer.
Congress issues stern warning, says it would amount to anti-party activityThe move by Pilot to hold a fast against his party-led government led to a stern warning by the Congress, which said that any such protest against the government amounts to anti-party activity.
Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, AICC in-charge of Rajasthan, said that Pilot's day-long fast is against the party's interests and that any issue with his own government should be discussed in party forums instead of publicly.
Sachin Pilot announces hunger strike against Gehlot's inaction on corruption cases during Raje govt
Sources said Pilot had directed his loyalist MLAs to stay away from the event as he wanted only workers to participate in the fast to avoid it being seen as a factional event.
Pilot's move seen as attempt to pressure party high command ahead of pollsPilot's proposed fast is seen as an attempt to pressure the party high command to resolve the leadership issue ahead of the year-end polls amid factional fighting within the party in Rajasthan.
'Had written to the party high command'Pilot has claimed that he had written to Gehlot and the party high command last year, on March 28 and November 2, on the issue but did not get any answer. He alleged Sunday that the Gehlot-led government failed to investigate alleged corruption when BJP governed Rajasthan and announced a day-long fast to press for action.
Pilot has been asking the high command to settle the leadership issue in Rajasthan, but the high command had been busy with the Bharat Jodo Yatra, and now with Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification from Parliament, and has been unable to pay much attention to Rajasthan.
Rajasthan Congress infighting: TS Singhdeo defends Sachin Pilot's hunger strike for probe against Vasundhara
Congress asks Pilot to raise issues in party forumsSukhjinder Singh Randhawa said any demonstration against the government would be considered anti-party activity and contrary to the party's best interests. He has been in contact with Pilot, advising him to bring up concerns within party platforms rather than publicly criticising the government.
Pawan Khera sought to downplay Pilot's remarks Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera sought to downplay Pilot's remarks and said it is "wrong" to say that the Ashok Gehlot dispensation is not acting against graft. He said a probe against senior BJP leader from Rajasthan Gajendra Singh Shekhawat is on in the Sanjeevani scam and the Union minister has also filed a defamation case against Chief Minister Gehlot.
‘Problems could have been solved internally…’ Rajasthan Minister on Pilot’s fast against own govt
No MLA or minister is expected to join Pilot A Rajasthan cabinet minister on Monday asked the party workers to not give support to those who are trying to sabotage the work done by the Ashok Gehlot government.
No MLA or minister is expected to join Pilot during the fast, but thousands of his supporters from various parts of the state are likely to come to Shaheed Smarak, where he will be sitting on the fast on Tuesday.