Congress to Pilot: Why is BJP sheltering you?

NEW DELHI: Seeking to undercut its Rajasthan rebel’s defence against disqualification, Congress on Saturday told sacked deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot that it was ironic he is arguing in court that he was in the party while seeking shelter from BJP-ruled Haryana, the Haryana police and BJP-associated lawyers. While attacking Pilot, Congress also accused the saffron party of orche-strating an “Operation Lotus” in Rajasthan.



AICC spokesman Pawan Khera said, “What is the reason that Pilot has more trust in Haryana Police than Rajasthan Police, that on one hand you are telling the court that you are in Congress and then you are sheltered by BJP in Haryana? What is the reason that top lawyers affiliated to BJP are proving in court that these MLAs belong to Congress and then they are helped by BJP to escape the Rajasthan Police from the hotel backdoor to avoid giving voice samples? Now, we hear these MLAs can be taken to the BJP-ruled Karnataka.”

The bid to tie Pilot to BJP comes amid the court battle where the Pilot camp has challenged the disqualification notices by saying that they are in Congress and could not be accused of anti-party activities for merely challenging CM Ashok Gehlot’s style of functioning.

Reacting to BJP’s remarks about “illegal” phone tapes allegedly discussing horse-trading, Khera said, “We are witnessing daylight murder of democracy by BJP in Rajasthan. BJP’s only grievance is that when they were murdering democracy, why were they getting recorded and if they were getting recorded, was it legal? It is like a murderer claiming that the witness who saw him committing the murder and who informed police, violated the privacy of the murderer by peeping into his room when he was committing the crime. The shamelessness of this admission is also very shocking.”

He made light of BJP’s accusations of illegal phone-tapping by the Rajasthan government, saying the protagonists of “snoopgate” are sitting at the pinnacle of power today. Congress lamented that BJP’s bid to gain power through illegal means is dubbed by commentators as reflective of the BJP leadership’s “fire in the belly” though it is “actually burning the Constitution”.

About BSP chief Mayawati’s demand for President’s rule in Rajasthan, Khera said, “We should not comment on the helplessness of a leader. She has her own reasons, her own compulsions, her own fears, which forces her to come out with such comments to help the BJP.”

Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword.