Jan Sangharsh Yatra Day 2: Youths bat for Pilot, say they know who is fighting for them

It is this unrest among youth that Pilot is hoping to tap into and consolidate his position within the party which has increasingly been side-lining him. If apparent lack of action in corruption cases during former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje’s tenure was a long winded way of taking on CM Ashok Gehlot, then taking an overtly pro-youth stance is perhaps a more relatable issue for the electorate and Pilot’s core supporter base.

In Pilot’s own words, “a lot of youth is sad and helpless” as not only there is a dearth of employment opportunities, but the examinations to fill up vacancies are disrupted by leaks. Earlier this year, Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy Pvt. Ltd. (CMIE) had shown Haryana of having the highest rate of unemployment in India at 37.4 per cent in December 2022, followed by Rajasthan at 28.5 per cent.

Hence, Ajmer was chosen consciously by Pilot as it is home to the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) headquarters, which has been home to several controversies and paper leaks, apart from it being Pilot’s former Lok Sabha seat and thus a region of influence.

“The aim of this yatra is to ensure that the youth of this state continue to trust the system,” said Pilot, citing paper leaks and cancellation of examinations which sometimes lead to “students becoming overage,” apart from families investing “a lot of money” to help them prepare for government examinations.

“It is not limited to one caste, region, language or community. The youth is the biggest capital of our country. If their emotions aren’t respected, and if we don’t struggle to protect their interests and just let them be, then the disappointment which is there in rural areas and in cities … I have met a lot of youth and I feel that we are not carrying out our responsibility,” he said.

And as per Ajay Pal Singh, 36, who can be better to raise the voice of youth than the “youth icon” himself. “He is a youth icon. We have seen him as an MP, as the PCC chief, and he works as hard in Ganganagar as in Ajmer,” says Singh, who has come from the border district of Ganganagar to support Pilot.

“Even though there are no MLAs (apart from Pilot) and there was just a one day notice for this yatra, look at the crowd,” says Singh, and since Gehlot has been “speaking out of frustration, then Pilot’s efforts must be working.”

The Yatra covers about 25 kms each day, through two shifts of about three hours each — on its way to Jaipur. To beat the glaring Sun, Pilot’s supporters have arranged for sufficient water and buttermilk for the Yatris. Like Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra but on a smaller scale, a truck with cameras moves in front to live broadcast the march on his social media, while another one plays music with a tinge of patriotism and bravery.

While the MLAs were not invited – apparently to avoid their counting and draw comparisons with Gehlot camp MLAs and to avoid sending a message of rebellion – usual Pilot loyalists such as Gopal Singh Shekhawat, who is the chairman of Rajasthan Senior Citizen Welfare Board and Mahesh Sharma, Chairman of Rajasthan State Vipra Welfare Board, both of whom have a state minister status, have been part of the Yatra. Apart from them, several former post holders in the party, MLA candidates, etc. are also walking alongside Pilot.

Ravi Sharma, 35, a former Congress block president in Viratnagar, said that “a minus point of this government is paper leaks. And the youth know who is raising their issues.”

And although it is far from one yet, former independent MLA candidate from Sadulshahar, Om Bishnoi, 66, says that “there is a wave among the youth for Pilot and against corruption and paper leaks.” He said that Pilot has a strong sway among people between the ages of 18 and 40, and that Rahul Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge should take a decision on giving the reins back to Pilot to ensure that the party is repeated in Rajasthan.

Ramraj Gurjar, 21, Suresh Gurjar, 20, and Raju Gurjar, 21, who have come from Dudu in Jaipur, feel that if reins are not handed over to Pilot and he is not declared the CM face then he should form his own party.

However, Shokat Mehar, 29, from Jaisalmer, feels that Pilot should stay within the party. Former party spokesperson Sadiq Chouhan, 35, said that focus on the issue of corruption was long due and that Pilot is right in raising it.

Some others at the Yatra point out how, like Pilot, his loyalists and supporters have been pushed to the side-lines too. Devi Singh Gurjar, 28, who is a Kishangarh local, claims that some Pilot supporters were threatened by a Gehlot loyalist after they joined one of his farmer rallies earlier this year, “And it is impossible to get a transfer if you are a known Pilot supporter, no matter how hard you try.”

He said that since “most party leaders around Sonia ji are senior citizens”, they are biased towards Gehlot and hence Pilot perhaps loses out there.

Rajendra Jat, 42, of Kotputli says, “We respect Ashok Gehlot ji but unki umar ho gayi hai (he is now old). People retire at 60 and he is now 72. He should make way for youth as the youth can do what the old cannot.”

Another party leader, who did not wish to be named, said he hopes that things will change post Karnataka election results. “The party relies heavily on Rajasthan for its finances. If Congress forms a government in Karnataka, then perhaps the high command will be able to strengthen its position and depend less on Gehlot,” the leader said.

As he walks bearing the tricolour in the summer Sun, Haridev Gurjar of Kishangarh, born way back in 1943, says that he is walking for the future of the youth, “I pray to God that he does something for Pilot as he is talking about youth and raising their issues. I too am walking for the future generations.”