Rajasthan Congress leader Sachin Pilot sat on a day-long fast in Jaipur on Tuesday demanding action from his own government in cases of alleged corruption during the previous BJP regime in the state. The former deputy chief minister, who raised a fresh banner of revolt against Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, sat on the fast from 11 am to 4 pm at the Shaheed Smarak.
"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," Pilot said.
"This movement against corruption will continue," he added.
Pilot, who has been at loggerheads with Gehlot ever since the Congress formed the government in 2018, launched the fast despite warning from the party central leadership. All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge of Rajasthan, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, had said that any such protest against the state government would amount to anti-party activity and go against the party's interest.
"If there is any issue with his own government, it can be discussed at party forums instead of in the media and in public," Randhawa had said on Monday.
The Congress name and symbol were conspicuously absent at the protest site where several party leaders, including former MLAs Santosh Saharan and Ramnarayan Gurjar, were present. However, no incumbent MLAs of the ruling party came to the venue.
Before launching the fast, Pilot offered floral tributes to social reformer Jyotirao Phule at his portrait.
Pilot opened the fresh war front against Gehlot on Sunday after he targeted the state government for not taking action in cases of alleged corruption during the Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government.
Pilot's agitation amid a factional feud in the Congress is being seen as an attempt to put pressure on the party high-command to resolve the leadership issue in the state ahead of the Assembly polls due by the year-end.
