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    One should be careful about one’s words, says Sachin Pilot, Congress leader

    Synopsis

    In an interview with ET, Pilot says he is happy and satisfied that the party will take cognizance of the issues raised, and that he has received assurance that steps will be taken to resolve them.

    Sachin Pilot
    Sachin Pilot and other rebel MLAs would face disqualification in case they defied the Congress whip on the floor of the house.
    If it was all about talking to the party leadership, why did it take so long?
    Right from the beginning, it was about making the party leadership aware of the issues and challenges faced by us and the government in the state. We had come to Delhi with similar intentions. But the moment we came here, a number of things took place which forced us to take legal recourse. Sedition charges were filed against me and other leaders. More than a dozen FIRs were filed and attempts were made to disqualify us. I had maintained that in any situation I am not going to leave the party. I felt that the people responsible for the communication to the leadership didn’t do the right job. We decided to present ourselves before the leadership and explain our grievances.

    Are you satisfied with the response from the Congress party leadership?
    I am happy and satisfied that the party will take cognizance of the issues raised by us. A committee has been formed. I have been assured that very soon steps would be taken to resolve all the issues raised by us.

    During the political turmoil, many Congress leaders launched attacks on you. Chief Minister Gehlot even called you ‘nikamma (useless). What would you say to this?
    My father was in politics for 20 years and served Congress and the country in different responsibilities. I have spent almost 18 years in politics. My father taught me humility and simplicity in every situation in life. Forget about my colleagues or friends, even my critics wouldn’t say that I ever used any derogatory word against anyone. Of course, I am hurt by the selection of words against me. I have great respect for Ashok Gehlot and have worked together for the past six and a half years. But I think one should be careful about one’s words.

    You are considered close to the Gandhi family and during crisis, you spoke to all of them…
    For the Gandhi family, be it our party president Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi or Priyanka Gandhi, the interest of the party is supreme. They gave a patient hearing to me and other leaders and it was a very positive discussion. I told them that it is not about any personal ambition or position.

    Several Congress leaders said BJP is behind this move and you came back because you had no options.
    I have been maintaining right from day one that there is no question of going to BJP. It was all about our internal issues.

    What kind of role do you envisage for yourself now?

    I have left it up to the party leadership. There is absolutely no demand from my side. My only request is that there shouldn’t be any vendetta politics against the MLAs and leaders who were with me. They are all loyal party workers. Some of them have been to jail with the late Indira Gandhi.



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    Subscribe to The Economic Times Prime and read the ET ePaper online.

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