Leaders who have identified themselves as supporters of Sachin Pilot hit back at Ashok Gehlot, saying that the “public humiliation” of their leader was totally unacceptable and those responsible for it should be made accountable.
“Public humiliation of our leader Mr Pilot is something that is totally unacceptable to us, and those responsible for the meting out this treatment need to be made accountable. We are seeking to restore our self-respect and are not clamouring for any posts and positions contrary to false reports in the media,” Congress leaders Vishvendra Singh, Deependra Singh Shekhawat and Ramesh Meena, who have sided with Pilot in the power tussle with Chief Minister Gehlot, said in a joint statement.
“We have for years worked with dedication, devotion and service towards the party. And we are taking a stand to protect our dignity and self-respect at a time when our leader is threatened with notices from the SOG under the charges of sedition and criminal conspiracy,” they said.
They said that the recent developments in the party were unprecedented, and that in the last six years, they had made every effort to strengthen the party and bring it to power in Rajasthan at a time when it had been reduced to an insignificant number in the state assembly.
“We have been senior members of the party for many years and have held many positions within the party and government and are not lured by inducements,” they said.
Of the three signatories to the statement, Singh and Meena were sacked as ministers following the meeting of the Congress Legislature Party on Tuesday, while Pilot was removed as deputy chief minister and state party president.
सत्य को परेशान किया जा सकता है पराजित नहीं।
— Sachin Pilot (@SachinPilot) July 14, 2020
In response to this move by the Congress party, Pilot tweeted: “Truth can be harassed, but not defeated.” Pilot also removed ‘Congress’ from his Twitter bio.
