Aak Ki Adalat: In the wake of studies that Bihar CM Nitish Kumar could be part of BJP-led NDA quickly, Congress normal secretary Sachin Pilot has mentioned, he’s fairly hopeful that seat sharing shall be finalised “very soon”.
Appearing in Rajat Sharma’s ‘Aap Ki Adalat’ present, to be telecast tonight on India TV at 10 pm, Sachin Pilot was requested about Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee deciding to go it alone in West Bengal, Pilot replied: “Every regional party has its importance, whether it is Bengal, Maharashtra, Bihar or Punjab, but on national all-India level, if there is any party which can challenge BJP, it is Congress…We are ready for seat sharing, because we must win this election for democracy. Only a strong opposition can drive a democracy. Our alliance in INDIA is based on issues, and very soon we will settle all matters relating to seat sharing.”
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Rajat Sharma: But there may be little or no time left, and neither the convenor nor the PM face has been determined?
Sachin Pilot: “It was decided at the beginning that we will not aspire for any top post. Who will take up which post will be decided at the right time. The first objective is: unity. This is not easy. There are so many parties from different backgrounds. Every party has different style of thinking. Occasionally, we do fight in meetings, but imagine, to bring all parties together in a big country and take them forward smoothly is not an easy task. But all the parties felt this (unity) was essential. The INDIA alliance was formed and I feel that if the alliance moves forward unitedly and strongly, we can give a good fight to NDA. Do not forget, old allies of NDA like Shiromani Akali Dal, Shiv Sena, JD-U have already left. If BJP now thinks it can win the election on its own strength, they will know what will happen in Lok Sabha election.”
On Mamata Banerjee’s comment that the Congress was being guided by the Left towards which she fought for 34 years, Sachin Pilot replied: “I do not agree with her. Mamata Ji is a respected leader and she became chief minister of Bengal several times. She has a different structure in Bengal. In INDIA bloc there is equal participation of all. We are already discussing about seat sharing in Bengal. The result will come out soon. But our main objective in INDIA alliance is there. If you add the votes of all parties, it has got more than 60 per cent votes, and the NDA has got less than 35 per cent votes. It is the BJP which should be worried… if all constituents of INDIA alliance fight jointly, then anything can happen. That’s why BJP is more worried about INDIA unity.”
ADANI AND CONGRESS
On Adani group signing 4 agreements with the Congress authorities in Telangana for investing over Rs 12,400 crore in the face of repeated allegations by Rahul Gandhi that Modi authorities was unduly favouring the group, Sachin Pilot replied: “If any industrial group qualifies in bidding and invests in a state, any state authorities will welcome capital in order that industries can present jobs. There is nothing mistaken in it, but when any authorities bypasses all guidelines and legal guidelines and provides away mines, energy vegetation, airports, ports and railway to 1 or two individuals, it’s nation’s property. The complete work needs to be clear. What we are saying is, when there may be chance of doubts, please deliver transparency.
Rajat Sharma: Your social gathering’s Ashok Gehlot authorities in Rajasthan signed investments with Adani group for Rs 25,000 crore.
Sachin Pilot: We say, allow them to make investments Rs 1 lakh crore, however let there be aggressive bidding and allow them to qualify. Nobody has any objection if guidelines and legal guidelines are adopted and investments come in.
Rajat Sharma: Mr Gautam Adani got here in Aap Ki Adalat. When I requested him about this, he mentioned, I can account for every and every little thing. We bought all via aggressive bidding, there have been no favours, however he felt why Rahul Ji had issues with him?
Sachin Pilot: This will not be so. I feel there have been some points the place clarifications weren’t given. You and I understand how bidding processes are managed.
Rajat Sharma: When there may be Congress rule, they don’t seem to be managed, however they’re managed throughout BJP rule?
Sachin Pilot: We are taking about nationwide stage.
Rajat Sharma: There cannot be double requirements. For final 9 years, you’ll abuse Adani and Ambani after which Congress governments will give them contracts?
Sachin Pilot: If any industrial group needs to work transparently, it needs to be allowed, whichever state it’s. If one thing is finished in a non-transparent method, then there should be probe, even when it’s a Congress authorities. I really feel, there needs to be equal requirements. If folks really feel that some irregularities occurred, and there are instances in courts, or a report comes in, then we really feel some mistaken has taken place.
Rajat Sharma: You are discovering it troublesome to defend?
Sachin Pilot: “Not at all. During UPA rules, there used to be frequent allegations of crony capitalism. In the last 10 years, BJP government could not prove anything, whether it is 2G scam, CWG scam, and what not. Nothing has come forward till date. We say, you had been levelling allegations. If today, in your rule, if anybody raises questions, then reply. I cannot hold anyone guilty. You are the judges, I can only ask. While in opposition, if we ask questions, expel 150 MPs. If one asks questions, declare him as anti-national….If SEBI is investigating something and if somebody has filed a case in court, then the government must reply. The matter will end there, but to obfuscate and trying to drag the issue….This causes controversy.”
ELECTORAL DEFEAT
On some Congress leaders saying that the social gathering misplaced in Rajasthan meeting polls due to his quarrels with Ashok Gehlot, Sachin Pilot replied: “We lost elections in three states and I am very much sad that we lost in MP, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. In Rajasthan we had 200 seats and this time we won 70 seats. As far as the charge that the party lost because of me is concerned, let me explain. In 2013 our party won only 21 seats in. Was I responsible for that? It is very easy to make allegations. If we had won the election this time, what would they have said?…This time, all of us worked hard, but you know for the last 30 years, there is this five years for BJP, five years for Congress pattern. We said this time we will break this pattern. I accept there were some issues. All of us sat together, Kharge , Rahul Ji, me and others. Unfortunately, we could not convince the public. But let me tell you, our vote percentage did not go down. We got nearly 40 per cent vote which was 1.5 per cent less compared to BJP. It’s not that we were washed out in the elections. Our morale is low, but wins and defeats take place…Even after BJP formed the government, we won the byelection (Karanpur) in which the BJP minister (Surendra Pal Singh) was defeated by the Congress candidate (Rupinder Singh Koonar) by nearly 12,000 votes. Within three weeks of the state assembly elections, the public defeated the BJP candidate who was already made the minister. All of us went there to campaign.”
When Rajat Sharma reminded him that Ashok Gehlot as chief minister had as soon as described him as “deshdrohi” (anti-national) and had filed a case towards him, Sachin Pilot replied: “I feel you’ll have to maintain one other Aap Ki Adalat for this, name him and ask this query. What he mentioned or did not say, this sedition case, all these developments that occurred, there should have been some cause. Aise Toh Koi Bewafaa Nahin Hota (Nobody turns into untrue swiftly)..There should be some cause. Because of all these, we and our associates got here to Delhi, positioned our grievances and there have been lengthy discussions. Late Ahmed Patel Ji, he’s no extra, he tried to deliver an answer, after which we moved forward.
‘Aap Ki Adalat’ with Congress normal secretary Sachin Pilot shall be telecast tonight at 10 on India TV. Repeat telecasts of this present shall be made on Sunday morning at 10 and on Sunday evening at 10.
