Rajasthan BJP dares Sachin Pilot for public debate

After almost two months of regular questions put up by Rajasthan's Congress unit chief Sachin Pilot to Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, state BJP chief Madan Lal Saini has challenged Pilot for a public debate.

Pilot has caused embarrassment to the ruling BJP with his questions, ranging from farmer issues to unemployment to growing crimes, directed to Raje since she started her Rajasthan Gaurav Yatra on August 4. But the ruling BJP, apart from mandatory murmuring questioning logic, rationale and intent of these questions has not given any answer to him.

Saini challenged Pilot as Raje's yatra comes to a close. Speaking to DNA he said, "I challenge the Congress state chief to come forward and ask questions on any subject. I challenge their former chief minister to debate on the issue with our chief minister. And if they want we can arrange for any of their leaders with one of ours. The debate can be on an open forum and they can ask any questions they want."

"And they can also answer our questions about what they did for the state all these years," added Saini.

Reacting to Saini's challenge, Congress spokesperson Suresh Choudhary said, "At last the BJP decides to answer the questions we have been asking. But the questions are addressed to Chief Minister by our state president Sachin Pilot, so we urge the CM to decide on day, time and place and our president will be there to seek answers in persons."

Political experts feel that round one of this question bout definitely goes to Pilot as he has managed to raise important issues of the state and also set an agenda of seeking answers from Raje who has claimed that she is taking stock of the work done by government through the yatra.

This is not the first time that Pilot has launched a long drawn offensive against BJP. When Raje government was celebrating its fourth anniversary, Pilot had installed a reverse clock; of 365 days; to show the countdown of the BJP government. The clock still continues to tick at Congress office.