In rare show of support, Ashok Gehlot stands up for Sachin Pilot in face of BJP attack

BJP social media cell chief Amit Malviya in a post on X, formerly Twitter, alleged Rajesh Pilot and Suresh Kalmadi flew IAF jets that bombed Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram, in March 1966.

"Later both became MPs on Congress tickets and ministers in the government. It is clear that Indira Gandhi gave a place in politics as a reward, gave respect to those who carried out air raids on their own people in the Northeast," Malviya said in the post in Hindi.

Responding to the same, Gehlot alleged that the BJP is insulting the IAF's sacrifices.

"Congress leader Shri Rajesh Pilot was a brave pilot of the Indian Air Force. By insulting them, the BJP is insulting the sacrifice of the Indian Air Force. The whole country should condemn this," Gehlot posted.

This is a rare show of unity with Sachin Pilot, with whom he has been having friction over the chief minister's top post in Rajasthan.

With the Rajasthan election scheduled this year, Gehlot's support for Pilot and his family's legacy when they came under the BJP's attack is seen as a bigger united Congress message.

In his response to Malviya's claim, Pilot Tuesday pointed out the BJP social media chief got the dates wrong on the Mizoram information.

"You have the wrong dates, wrong facts... Yes, as an Indian Air Force pilot, my late father did drop bombs. But that was on erstwhile East Pakistan during the 1971 Indo-Pak war and not as you claim, on Mizoram on the 5th of March 1966," Sachin Pilot posted on X.

"He was commissioned into the IAF only on 29th October 1966. (certificate attached). Jai Hind and a happy Independence Day," he added.