Gehlot responds to Sachin Pilot’s jibe: ‘Should not make such remarks… want everyone to adhere to discipline’
After Congress leader Sachin Pilot swiped at Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday over the praise the Rajasthan Chief Minister received from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gehlot said they should not make such remarks at this time.
CM Gehlot stated, “Venugopal Ji had said that no comments would be made (against other party leaders). We ask everyone to follow the rules to maintain discipline within the party.”
In drawing the attention of new party chief Mallikarjun Kharge to the pending decision regarding notices to three loyalists of the Chief Minister, Pilot, the former deputy chief minister of Rajasthan, called for action against Rajasthan legislators who allegedly orchestrated a boycott of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting in September.
At his residence in Jaipur, Pilot told the media: “It is interesting that the PM praised (CM) yesterday. This is not something to be taken lightly. The PM praised Ghulam Nabi Azad in Parliament, and we all witnessed the results.”
CM Gehlot shared the stage with PM Modi on Tuesday during a program at Mangarh Dham in Rajasthan’s Banswara district. Prime Minister Modi stated at the event, “Ashok Ji and I have worked together as chief ministers. He was the most senior member of our group. He is still one of the most senior chief ministers among those on the stage today.”
Pilot and Gehlot’s strained relations intensified following the events of September 25, when scores of MLAs, angered by the Congress high command’s unilateral decision to nominate a new chief minister without consulting them, skipped a Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting and submitted their resignations to Assembly Speaker CP Joshi.
While Congress general secretary K C Venugopal directed party leaders in the state not to make public statements regarding other party leaders or internal party affairs, Gehlot overstepped this directive and attacked Pilot and Ajay Maken at length on October 2 without naming either.
