Mumbai, February 19 Congress leader Sachin Pilot criticized Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday for making a "disrespectful and inappropriate" remark against Rahul Gandhi, and demanded that he apologize.
He was responding to a query regarding Rijiju's reported statement in which he described Gandhi as the "most dangerous person" for India's security, and a purported video of a man claiming to be from the Karni Sena issuing death threats to the Congress leader.
Addressing a press conference here, Pilot said, "When ordinary journalists criticize the government, they face FIRs and imprisonment. But when threats are issued against the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha (Rahul Gandhi), there is silence. This shows the government's intention. The Leader of the Opposition is a constitutional position. To describe him as a security threat is inappropriate and disrespectful. Even as such open threats are being made, the government is not taking any action."
"The statement against Gandhi should be withdrawn and an apology should be issued," the Congress general secretary said, adding that it is the job of the Leader of the Opposition to seek accountability from the government and ask questions.
Responding to a query about the plane crash in which Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was killed on January 28, Pilot said, "I do not want to speculate. There should be a transparent, time-bound inquiry. If there are doubts, a high-level investigation should clarify the facts."
When asked about the demand for a change in leadership within the opposition INDIA bloc, he said, "Leadership decisions are internal matters. The alliance worked remarkably well in the last Lok Sabha election. The gap in numbers between the INDIA bloc and the NDA was not very wide. We are working together strongly and will continue to do so."
The Congress has been leading the INDIA bloc, a coalition of opposition parties formed before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections to counter the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). However, voices from disgruntled Congress members and those associated with the UPA dispensation suggested that the leadership of the opposition alliance should be given to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee or Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin.
On Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Indian economy, Pilot said, "India is a major IT power. We have talent and capability. Many countries see India as a natural partner. But we must use our strengths wisely and not compromise our sovereignty under pressure."
"India should have the freedom to decide where to buy oil from. That is a sovereign decision," Pilot said.
On the issue of illegal migration, he said that anyone staying illegally in India should be removed regardless of religion or caste.
"But this issue should not be politicized. If the border has been under control for 11 years, how did illegal immigrants enter? The government should provide data on how many people have been deported," he said.
"This government's intent and policies are anti-farmer and there is no accountability. The opposition will continue to demand answers from the government and stand with farmers and the people of India," he said.