India News Updates: ‘BJP should apologise over its false claims on Rajesh Pilot’: Rajasthan Minister Khachariyawas
Rajasthan Minister Pratap Khachariyawas has demanded an apology from the BJP for making false allegations against late Congress leader Rajesh Pilot, who was a former Indian Air Force (IAF) officer and a minister in the central government. Khachariyawas accused the BJP of insulting the sacrifice of the IAF and the legacy of Rajesh Pilot, who was the father of Congress leader Sachin Pilot.
The controversy erupted after BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya posted on X (formerly Twitter) that Rajesh Pilot and Suresh Kalmadi were flying the IAF planes that bombed Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram, on March 5, 1966, during the Mizo National Front uprising. Malviya claimed that both of them later became MPs and ministers in the Congress government as a reward for carrying out air raids on their own people in the Northeast.
However, Sachin Pilot refuted Malviya's claims and said that the facts and dates were wrong as his father was commissioned into the IAF in October 1966. He also shared the certificate according to which Rajesh Pilot was commissioned in the IAF on October 29, 1966¹. He said that his father was a brave pilot who fought in the 1971 war against Pakistan and was awarded several medals for his service.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also came out in support of Sachin Pilot and slammed the BJP for insulting Rajesh Pilot. He said that Rajesh Pilot was a brave pilot of the IAF and by insulting him, the BJP was insulting the sacrifice of the IAF. He said that the whole country should condemn this.
Khachariyawas echoed Gehlot's sentiments and said that the BJP should apologise over its false claims on Rajesh Pilot. He said that Rajesh Pilot was a respected leader who served the country with honesty and dedication. He said that the BJP was trying to tarnish his image and reputation by spreading lies and misinformation. He said that the BJP had no moral right to question the credentials of Rajesh Pilot, who was a hero of the nation.
Khachariyawas also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for mentioning the Aizawl bombing incident in his speech in Lok Sabha on August 14, 2023. He said that Modi had hurt the sentiments of the people of Mizoram by recalling a painful chapter of their history. He said that Modi should have apologised to the people of Mizoram for the atrocities committed by his party's mentor Indira Gandhi, who was the prime minister at that time.
Khachariyawas said that the Congress party had always stood for the unity and integrity of India and had respected the diversity and culture of all regions. He said that the Congress party had given due recognition and respect to Rajesh Pilot, who was a popular leader in Rajasthan and across India. He said that Rajesh Pilot's son Sachin Pilot was also a dynamic leader who had a bright future in politics.
He urged the people of Rajasthan to reject the BJP's propaganda and lies and support the Congress party in the upcoming assembly elections. He said that under Gehlot's leadership, Rajasthan had made remarkable progress in various fields and had overcome many challenges posed by Covid-19 pandemic. He said that Rajasthan needed a stable and progressive government led by Gehlot to continue its development journey.
Source:
(1) India News Updates: ‘BJP should apologise over its false claims on Rajesh Pilot’: Rajasthan Minister Khachariyawas. https://www.firstpost.com/india/india-news-live-trending-today-latest-breaking-updates-august-17-2023-13005832.html.
(2) "BJP should apologise over its false claims on Rajesh Pilot .... https://www.bignewsnetwork.com/news/273934596/bjp-should-apologise-over-its-false-claims-on-rajesh-pilot-rajasthan-minister-khachariyawas.
(3) 'By insulting Rajesh Pilot, BJP is insulting the sacrifice of IAF .... https://theprint.in/politics/bjp-has-insulted-rajesh-pilot-ashok-gehlot/1717697/.
(4) BJP Has Insulted Rajesh Pilot: Ashok Gehlot - Outlook India. https://www.outlookindia.com/national/bjp-has-insulted-rajesh-pilot-ashok-gehlot-news-311249.
