Congress leader Sachin Pilot recently led a five-day foot march from Ajmer to Jaipur, in protest against the alleged inaction of the state government. The culmination of the march was marked by a public meeting, where Pilot addressed the gathered crowd and reiterated his demands.
Pilot’s demands include the waiver of farmers’ loans, the implementation of the Swaminathan Committee’s recommendations on fixing MSP (Minimum Support Price) for crops, the filling of all vacant government posts, and the timely payment of salaries to government employees.
Addressing the crowd, Pilot stated that the state government has failed to address the issues faced by farmers, government employees, and the unemployed youth of Rajasthan. He criticized the government for ignoring the plight of farmers, who are reeling under the burden of loans, and for not implementing the Swaminathan Committee’s recommendations.
Pilot also highlighted the issue of unemployment in the state, and pointed out that despite promising to create two lakh jobs every year, the government has failed to provide employment opportunities to the youth. He demanded that all vacant government posts be filled without delay.
The Congress leader further criticized the government for delaying the payment of salaries to government employees, and stated that this has caused immense hardship to the employees and their families. He demanded that salaries be paid on time, and that the government take steps to ensure that such delays do not occur in the future.
Pilot’s speech was met with enthusiastic applause from the gathered crowd, who voiced their support for his demands. The Congress leader ended his address by warning the state government that if action on his demands is not taken by the end of the month, he would launch a statewide movement to press for his demands.
The march and the public meeting were seen as a show of strength by Pilot, who had recently been embroiled in a power tussle with Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. The two leaders had patched up their differences following intervention by the party high command, but Pilot’s march and his threat of a statewide movement are being seen as a signal of his growing clout within the party.
Political analysts believe that Pilot’s show of strength could put pressure on the Gehlot government, which is already facing criticism over its handling of the Covid-19 pandemic and the recent spate of crimes against women in the state.
The coming days are likely to see a further escalation of the political tension in Rajasthan, as Pilot and Gehlot continue to jostle for power and influence within the Congress party. The state government will need to tread carefully in its response to Pilot’s demands, as any misstep could further fuel the simmering discontent within the party.