Meena says that since Congress is projecting Pilot as chief minister candidate, he should speak out on the most important issue related to his community
Stalwart tribal leader and BJP Rajya Sabha MP Kirori Lal Meena on Tuesday challenged PCC chief Sachin Pilot to clarify his stand on providing ST status to Gurjar community. He said Sachin's father Rajesh Pilot was instrumental in helping Gurjars get reservation as ST in Himachal Pradesh and then demanded to know where he stood on the issue. Gurjars have been demanding reservation as ST while the Meena community has been opposing it. The two communities are known for adopting politically opposed stand.
Meena said that since Congress is projecting Pilot as chief minister candidate, he should speak out on the most important issue related to his community. "I have been told by informed sources within Congress that Rahul Gandhi has decided to make Sachin Pilot chief minister if Congress comes to power in Rajasthan. The manner in which a roadshow was organised from Dhaulpur to Dausa is also evidence of same. So, he should spell out what his stand will be towards giving ST reservation to his community, the Gurjars," Meena told DNA.
"Sachin's father Rajesh Pilot was instrumental in helping Gurjars get quota as ST in Himachal Pradesh and had initiated same in Rajasthan. This is how Shivpal Gujar from Himachal Pradesh contested elections from Dausa, a seat in Rajasthan reserved for ST," added Meena.
Efforts to contact Pilot were not successful as he was in Delhi for Manvendra Singh's induction into Congress on Wednesday.
This move by Meena — a maverick politician — is being seen as a catch-22 situation for Congress and Pilot. It raises aspirations of Gurjar community from Pilot and they could pick up this demand. If Pilot's answers in positive, it will not go down well with the Meena community that has been opposing the Gurjars' demand and consolidate votes for Meena. However, his silence could also be misconstrued and would only add fuel to speculation.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Kirori Lal Meena")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}