Sachin Pilot’s dramatic somersault to slip back into the Congress’s embrace, bringing to an abrupt end the feud that had shaken the government in Rajasthan, is a rare development in Indian politics. Defections and betrayal are common in politics but few have come back after going this far.
After a rebellion that generated bitterness, legal wrangles and the grave charge of playing into the hands of the BJP, Pilot has returned to the Congress fold. Pilot explained his actions while refusing to concede there was any revolt in an interview with The Telegraph. Excerpts:
Q: You are back in the Congress but are you happy with whatever happened over the last month?
Pilot: I never left the Congress. We were very clear from the beginning that we are raising some genuine issues within the party. Nobody does this happily. We were constrained to do this.
Q: Given the sordid drama that it triggered, do you think you could have raised these issues differently, ensuring that your actions did not acquire the form of a revolt?
Pilot: It wasn’t a revolt. And if you insist it was, let me tell you we never planned it that way. It doesn’t give us any pleasure or comfort to recall whatever happened. What do you do when your own government sends you notices for sedition? How can anyone tolerate this? FIRs are lodged, MLAs are suspended, police are unleashed on us.
The acrimony was increased so much at the very outset…. You do feel like fighting for your honour under these circumstances. We were only raising issues with the central leadership. We had come to Delhi because issues raised calmly in the past were not addressed. But we were mischievously branded as BJP agents. What do we do when somebody is hounding us? We fight back.
Q: But what would the chief minister do if you destabilise his government, if there is evidence of deal-making with the BJP? Not only the chief minister, the Congress formally said several times that you were playing into the BJP’s hands.
Pilot: There was never the question of leaving the Congress. I made it repeatedly clear that joining the BJP was out of question. What you are saying is precisely the reason for our anger, compelling us to fight back. But we never spoke a word against the party, against our leadership, even against the chief minister.
The MLAs who came with me are not ordinary people; some of them have been the backbone of the party for decades, they went to jail fighting for Indira Gandhi. They were called BJP agents. But we did not utter a word against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi or even (Rajasthan chief minister) Ashok Gehlot. Personal attacks were made on me. But I avoided responding to them.
Q: There were allegations that you accepted the BJP’s hospitality in Haryana, the BJP’s support systems and protection.
Pilot: Any allegation can be made. We never accepted the BJP’s hospitality. The MLAs were paying from their pocket. The BJP knew I had no intention of joining them.
Q: In this ugly episode, which was primarily triggered by you, has your political career been disrupted? Have you hurt yourself by your miscalculation and misstep?
Pilot: I am not in politics for a personal career. We had to raise some issues of principles and I did it because we had to deliver on the promises made to the people. All of us worked very hard for five years to bring the Congress back and we wanted that those who worked hard should be recognised, respected.
They made certain promises to the people and they should be in a position to deliver after coming to power. It is never about posts and personal ambitions for me. It is only about principles and justice.
Q: Will you return to the Rajasthan government or get a role in the high command structure?
Pilot: We have put forward our grievances before the leadership. A three-member committee will examine them. We have been assured that all issues will be sorted out. We don’t want vendetta against those who raised their voice. The high command is very sensitive about this and has assured us this will not happen. As far as my role is concerned, I will serve the people in whatever capacity the party asks me to do that. Posts and positions are not the be all and end all of politics.
