I am not joining BJP, says Pilot

Then stop accepting BJP’s hospitality, come back home: Cong to rebel leader

The Congress’ Rajasthan conundrum on Wednesday raged on as hours after rebel leader Sachin Pilot said that he was not joining the BJP, chief minister Ashok Gehlot accused him of being directly involved in horse-trading to topple his government.

“I am not joining the BJP. I would like to make it clear that I have no plans to join the BJP. The BJP link is an attempt to malign me in the eyes of the Gandhis,” Mr Pilot told a TV channel, pointing out that he had worked hard to defeat the BJP.

Responding to him, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala struck a note that was simultaneously accusatory and conciliatory, saying all grievances would be heard and solutions found but all rebel party MLAs must “stop accepting the hospitality of the BJP in Haryana immediately”.

“I have seen Pilot’s statement in the media that he will not join the BJP. If you do not want to go to the BJP, stop accepting the hospitality of the BJP immediately,” he told reporters and added that

Mr Pilot should free the Congress MLAs who are staying in two luxury hotels and under the security of the Haryana Police.

The Congress, however, dissolved all its district and state committees in the state and said fresh teams would be formed. The party also sought disqualification of Mr Pilot and 18 other dissident MLAs from the state Assembly though maintaining that they have not closed their doors on him.

Avinash Pande, the AICC in-charge of Rajasthan, said, “Come back to your family, sit with your family and place your view before the family,” he said at the Jaipur hotel where MLAs from the Gehlot camp are holed up.

However, CM Mr Gehlot was unrelenting. In the harshest words spoken so far by any Congress leader against Mr Pilot, he accused his sacked deputy of being directly involved in horse-trading with the BJP. “Our deputy chief minister and PCC president himself was doing the deal and was giving statements that no horsetrading was taking place. What clarification are you giving when you yourself were involved?” he asked.

“We have the proof that horse trading was being committed. Money was offered... Those who were themselves part of the conspiracy are giving clarifications,” he said.

While mentioning that Mr Pilot has been a Union minister and the state chief, Mr Gehlot said he would have performed well for the nation had he gone through “struggle in his youth”. “Speaking good English, giving good quotes and being handsome isn’t everything. What is in your heart for the country, your ideology, policies and commitment, everything is important,” he said.