Latest news with #RajeshPilot
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Congress leaders unite at Rajesh Pilot memorial event in Rajasthan
Cutting across intra-party divisions, senior Congress leaders from Rajasthan and other States gathered in large numbers at Bhandana in Dausa district on Wednesday to mark the 25th death anniversary of former Union Minister Rajesh Pilot. The commemorative event, titled 'Prerna Diwas' (Inspiration Day), emerged as a significant show of strength for his son, former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot. The ceremony was held at the memorial site in Bhandana, where Mr. Rajesh Pilot lost his life in a road accident in 2000. A five-time MP from Dausa between 1984 and 1999, Mr. Pilot is widely remembered in the region as a champion of farmers' welfare and grassroots development. Congress leaders from Delhi and Rajasthan were in attendance, including nine sitting Members of Parliament, 47 out of the Congress's 66 MLAs in the State Assembly, 83 former Ministers, MPs and MLAs, and 46 functionaries of the party's various frontal organisations. The observance featured an all-religion prayer, a two-minute silence, devotional song renditions, and an exhibition showcasing Mr. Pilot's photographs, personal belongings, and milestones from his career as an Indian Air Force fighter pilot and parliamentarian. Veteran leader and former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot - who has had a strained relationship with Mr. Sachin Pilot since the political crisis of 2020 - was among the most notable attendees. Mr. Pilot had personally visited Mr. Gehlot's residence in Jaipur last week to extend an invitation, signalling a thaw in relations. Speaking to journalists, Mr. Gehlot said, 'We were never far apart… We have always been together and we share a lot of affection. It is you [media] who think that there is distance between us.' He also paid tribute to the late leader, stating, 'He left us too soon and we still remember him. Rajesh Ji and I were together as MPs for 18 years.' Though the organisers sought to maintain a non-political tone, party workers raised slogans for Mr. Sachin Pilot and his late father during the screening of a short film highlighting the latter's personal and political journey. 'Rajesh Pilot's truth, dedication, hard work and his smiling face will continue to inspire us,' Mr. Pilot said. 'He proved that a person could stay untainted even while sitting on high positions.' Among the prominent leaders present were AICC State in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Pradesh Congress Committee president Govind Singh Dotasra, Leader of Opposition Tika Ram Jully, Indian Youth Congress president Uday Bhanu Chib, All India Mahila Congress president Alka Lamba, and National Students' Union of India president Varun Choudhary.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Rajesh Pilot's 25th death anniversary: How an accident cut short Congress leader's career
Former Deputy Chief Minister and Congress leader Rajesh Pilot, father to Sachin Pilot, lost his life in a road accident on June 11, 2000. As per reports, Mr. Pilot's jeep collided with a bus in his Lok Sabha constituency Dausa, about 50 km from Jaipur, Rajasthan. He was rushed to Sawai Man Singh hospital in Jaipur for treatment but succumbed to his injury. Former Indian Air Force pilot-turned-politician Rajesh Pilot had sustained multiple injuries on his head, chest, and face following the tragic crash around 4:45 pm in 2000 and as per reports, he was all set to travel to Delhi, however, his jeep collided head-on with a Rajasthan Road Transport bus. Facts about Pilot A former minister for internal security, Rajesh Pilot was earlier given Z+ security. Although there was no foul play involved in the incident, President of Pheruman Akali Dal, Mahant Sewa Dass Singh, demanded a probe into events leading to the accident. He was known for his outspokenness and candid views. His political journey Rajesh Pilot, a seasoned and principled Congress leader, had openly opposed former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao and ex-party president Sitaram Kesri. Known for his commitment to ethics and integrity in public life, Pilot was preparing to challenge Sonia Gandhi in the upcoming organisational elections. His untimely death has left a significant void in the Congress Party, which continues to grapple with a shortage of strong leaders beyond the Nehru-Gandhi family. A respected parliamentarian, Pilot was also a vocal critic of the party's alliances with leaders like Jayalalithaa and Rabri Devi, reflecting his unwavering stance on political probity. Eyewitness on the incident Mahendra Meena, then MLA of Sikrai, was also present at the time of the accident and stated that Rajesh Pilot was touring the Dausa Lok Sabha constituency, attending several events before he was scheduled to travel to Jaipur and then onward to Delhi. Running slightly behind schedule and in a hurry to reach Jaipur, he remained committed to fulfilling his engagements. Mahendra Meena recalled that Rajesh Pilot was a leader who lived with humility and treated everyone equally, never drawing distinctions between the powerful and the common people. His personal life Rajesh Pilot was born in a small village in Uttar Pradesh on February 10, 1945 and he lost his armyman-father Jai Dayal Singh at an early age. Following the death, Rajesh Pilot moved to Delhi and worked as a milkman at affluent Delhi localities and later went on to join the Indian Air Force. It was in 1979 when Pilot got his ministerial break where his meeting with then Congress President Indira Gandhi began the chapter of politics in his life, and later he registered his first election win in Bharatpur and Dausa, after getting a ticket to contest the elections. Apart from this, he even emerged as a prominent Gurjar leader in the community.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Today in Politics: Will Sachin Pilot and Ashok Gehlot bury the hatchet in Dausa?
All eyes will be on Dausa on Wednesday, where a tribute ceremony to mark the 25th death anniversary for former Union Minister Rajesh Pilot will be held. The meeting assumes significance as it comes days after Congress national general secretary Sachin Pilot met former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and invited him to the programme. This was the first such meeting in recent years and is being seen as a sign of thaw between them. The two leaders are often seen as power centres within the state Congress. Gehlot shared the video of their meeting on X and recalled his long association with Rajesh Pilot. 'AICC general secretary Sachin Pilot invited me to the program organised on the 25th death anniversary of former Union minister Rajesh Pilot at his residence,' Gehlot said on X. He said, 'Rajesh Pilot and I reached the Lok Sabha together for the first time in 1980 and were MPs together for about 18 years. We are still saddened by his sudden demise. The party also suffered a deep shock due to his departure.' Sachin Pilot also shared the photo of the meeting and wrote on 'X', 'Met former chief minister Ashok Gehlot today. Requested him to attend the tribute ceremony organised in Dausa on June 11 on the 25th death anniversary of my father Rajesh Pilot.' Ties between Pilot and Gehlot were strained after the political crisis that hit the Ashok Gehlot-led government in 2020. Jharkhand Congress to meet over SC welfare Senior Congress leader Radha Krishna Kishore on Monday said that the Jharkhand unit of the party would convene a state-level meeting on June 11 to formulate a roadmap for the socio-economic development of the Scheduled Caste (SC) community. Kishore, also the Jharkhand finance minister, said that the alliance government in the state is committed to establishing an advisory council and a commission for the SC community soon. 'The Jharkhand Congress has convened a meeting with senior leaders and activists from the SC community to develop a strategy for the socio-economic development of the community in the state,' Kishore said while addressing reporters. He said that Jharkhand Congress in-charge K Raju, co-in-charge Dr Bela Prasad, AICC's SC department chairman Rajendra Pal Gautam and state president Keshav Mahto Kamlesh, among others, would participate in the meeting. 'The SC population in the state is approximately 50 lakh but their socio-economic conditions remain poor. Officially, the per capita income in Jharkhand is stated to be Rs 1.05 lakh annually. However, based on my observations, the per capita income of the poor and SC community is likely to be not more than Rs 60,000 annually,' he said. KCR may appear before Kaleshwaram probe panel Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) president and former Telangana CM K Chandrashekar Rao is likely to appear before the judicial commission probing the alleged irregularities in Kaleshwaram project Wednesday, party sources said on Tuesday. KCR, sought to appear before the panel on June 11 instead of June 5, the day he was earlier summoned, they said. The commission had last month issued notice to KCR for appearance as part of its ongoing inquiry. The damage to the barrages of Kaleshwaram project was a major issue during the 2023 assembly elections in the state. Telangana Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy recently announced that the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) has labelled the Kaleshwaram project, built at a cost of over Rs one lakh crore, to be 'probably the biggest man-made disaster in the country'. – With PTI inputs
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Tributes paid to Rajesh Pilot in city
Jaipur: Senior state Congress leaders, including former chief minister Ashok Gehlot , PCC president Govind Singh Dotasra, and leader of opposition Tikaram Jully, along with party workers and supporters from across the state, will gather in Dausa Wednesday to mark the 25th death anniversary of former Union minister Rajesh Pilot. A prayer meeting, hosted by his son and former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot, will be held at 11am at Dausa's sports ground. Pilot's legacy was honoured in Jaipur Tuesday, with the Shaurya Marudhara Foundation observing his death anniversary as "Inspiration Day" at the Pink City Press Club. The event was marked by the presence of retired officers from the Indian Army and Air Force, political figures and social activists. Foundation's president Mahendra Singh Khedi credited Pilot with significant contributions to India's telecommunications revolution and his vision for inclusive progress. "Pilot believed that true national development could only be achieved when children from disadvantaged backgrounds reached decision-making positions," Khedi said. During the Jaipur event, Youth Congress state president and Sangaria MLA Abhimanyu Poonia highlighted Pilot's fearless advocacy for the poor, soldiers and farmers. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo "He was a leader who not only took bold decisions but also uplifted the youth across sectors. Today, Sachin Pilot is taking forward the same vision with commitment," Poonia said. He added that Rajesh Pilot's life, both in uniform and in public office, remains an enduring source of inspiration. Retired Brigadier BS Nirban echoed the sentiment, calling Rajesh Pilot an exemplary figure both as a soldier and a statesman. "Such leaders are a matter of national pride," Nirban said, while also pointing to the challenges faced by martyr families in accessing basic rights and entitlements. He called for stronger legal protections for war widows and ex-servicemen's families in Rajasthan.
