Rajasthan BJP president Rathore slams Gehlot over remarks on Pilot amid 'imposter' row

BJP Rajasthan president Madan Rathore on Tuesday slammed former chief minister Ashok Gehlot over his remarks on Sachin Pilot, amid a row triggered by BJP state in-charge Radha Mohan Das Agarwal calling Pilot a ''bahurupiya'' (imposter). Rathore said Gehlot's statement that Pilot's ''both legs are in the Congress'' reflected his mindset and suggested that he does not fully accept Pilot as his own colleague. ''Gehlot is a senior leader, but he still treats Sachin Pilot like a child. He says Pilot will not make mistakes again and will remain with the party, as if he can be influenced easily. Pilot is not a child,'' Rathore said. Defending Agarwal's remark, Rathore said the BJP leader used the term ''bahurup'' to describe Pilot's ''many facets''. ''He has a calm and pleasant personality, but he has also shown an aggressive side in the past. A person who displays multiple traits can be described as having many forms. There was nothing else meant by the remark,'' he said. Rathore also took a swipe at Congress state chief Govind Singh Dotasra for objecting to the comment, saying the party itself does not highlight Pilot's qualities enough. ''Even though Pilot is not in our party, we are talking about his qualities. His own party leaders should do the same,'' Rathore said. Radha Mohan Das Agarwal targeted Congress leader and Tonk MLA Sachin Pilot on Monday, questioning his political loyalty and claiming, ''he keeps one foot in the party while the other rests somewhere else.'' He also said that a ''Behrupiya'' (imposter) has become the MLA of Tonk. Congress leaders reacted sharply to the comment and demanded an apology from Agarwal. In response to Agarwal's remarks, former chief minister Ashok Gehlot had asserted that both of Pilot's feet are firmly planted in the Congress party, and will remain there.

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