Sachin Pilot exit elicits muted reaction from Gujjars

JAIPUR: Unlike 2018 when the Gujjar community hit the streets and indulged in arson after Sachin Pilot was denied the chief minister’s post, there was no reaction from his community after his unceremonious exit from two key posts on Tuesday.
In 2018, the Congress high command had to call back Gehlot from Delhi airport when news spread that agitated Gujjars had blocked a national highway and went on a rampage after Sachin was not made the chief minister.
Pilot’s pressure had forced the party to work out a compromise formula by accommodating him as the deputy chief minister and agreeing to retain him in the post of party state chief.
But this time the reaction is almost muted. Himmat Singh, a young Gujjar leader associated with the Gujjar agitation said, “The community is really shocked by Pilot’s revolt. Over confidence and over ambition of Pilot led to a situation where the community which had supported him now left in the lurch.”
He alleged that though Pilot took advantage of community support, he did precious little to help the community struggle for 5% MBC reservation.
Gujjar leader Shailendra Singh Dhabai while reacting to the silence of the community on the political development said, “Sachin Pilot could not rise to the expectations of the community. He kept a distance from the community and never gave the respect to the community which supported him in the past.” Within one-and-half year, his popularly among the community has diminished, he said.
However, political pundits said Pilot’s ouster would be a loss to the Congress as he had support among the youth cutting across caste lines. It would be particularly felt in Dausa, Karauli and Sawai Madhopur region, experts said.