On Gehlot vs Pilot, Jairam Ramesh says individual doesn't matter; 'If tough action needed...'
Amid Ashok Gehlot versus Sachin Pilot in Rajasthan, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said if tough decisions are required to strengthen the party, then the party will not dither to take them.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Sunday said both Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot are equally important for the party, but the decisions to resolve the crisis in Rajasthan will be taken to strengthen the party -- not looking at the individual. "Some unexpected words have been spoken by the chief minister. I was also surprised. But I am reiterating myself that both are equally important for the party," Jairam Ramesh said replying to the questions of the reporters in Madhya Pradesh during the Bharat Jodo Yatra.
The comment comes in the context of Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot calling his bete noire Sachin Pilot 'gaddar' (traitor) which escalated the ongoing tussle between the two Congress leaders in the state.
Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra is scheduled to enter Rajasthan in December. Ahead of the yatra, the state unit remains strife-torn with Gurjar community leader Vijay Singh Bainsla threatening to disrupt the yatra if Sachin Pilot is not made the chief minister.
On the demands of making Pilot the chief minister, Gehlot said he can not be replaced by a 'gaddar' like Sachin Pilot and accused him of plotting to topple the government in 2020. "The MLAs will never accept someone who has revolted and has been dubbed as a gaddar. How can he become the chief minister? How can the MLAs accept such a person as the chief minister? I have proof that ₹10 crore each were distributed to the MLAs holed up in a Gurugram resort for toppling the Congress government in Rajasthan," Gehlot told NDTV.
Sachin Pilot hit back and said it is unbecoming of someone of Gehlot's stature to use such language to level baseless allegations. "It serves no purpose when we have to fight unitedly....previously also Ashok Gehlot ji has been making such allegations against me for a long time," Sachin Pilot said.
Commenting on the crisis, Jairam Ramesh said Bharat Jodo Yatra will be successful in Rajasthan as it has been in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. "Every Congress leader in Rajasthan wants the yatra to be successful. Bayaanbaazi chalta rahta hai.." Jairam Ramesh said.
"Ashok Gehlot is a senior and sensitive leader. sachin Pilot is a young, popular and energetic leader. The party needs both. The CM spoke some unexpected words. The party is deliberating on the issue and the solution will strengthen the party," Jairam Ramesh said.
"The individual does not matter -- whether there is a senior leader or a young leader. Because individuals come and go. Organisation matters more," the Congress leader said.
"Now what I had to say about Rajasthan I said. I can't give a timeline of when it will be solved," Jairam Ramesh said adding that if tough decisions are to be taken, then that will be done. If there needs to be an understanding, the party will take steps in that direction.
