‘Slip Of Tongue’: Cong Leader on ‘Sachin Pilot Now In BJP’ Remark

This comes amid the political crisis in Rajasthan, stemming from rebellion by Sachin Pilot.

Chattisgarh Congress in-charge PL Punia on Monday, 13 July, said that Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister “Sachin Pilot was now in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)”, in response to a question posed by news agency ANI. However, within minutes, he tweeted a clarification saying that it was a "slip of tongue".

"It is clear in the video that question was asked about Scindia ji and my reply was about Sh Scindia and by slip of tongue I took Sachin Pilot’s name instead of Scindia. Mistake is regretted," Punia tweeted.

ANI ने मुझसे ज्योतिरादित्य सिंधिया के बयान पर प्रतिक्रिया पूछी थी जिसके जवाब में मेरे मुँह से सचिन पायलट का नाम निकल गया। ये सहज मानवीय भूल और ज़बान फिसलने की मामला है। सचिन पायलट ख़ुद ही कह चुके हैं कि वे बीजेपी में नहीं जा रहे। वे अब भी कांग्रेस का हिस्सा हैं।⁦@ANI⁩ pic.twitter.com/YNI2kAqcTH

— P L Punia (@plpunia) July 13, 2020

Punia, who is AICC general secretary, had earlier told ANI that they don’t need a “certificate” from someone who was in BJP.

“Sachin Pilot is now in Bharatiya Janata Party. Everyone knows BJP’s attitude towards Congress party. We don’t need a certificate from BJP. In Congress Party, all leaders and workers are respected.”

PL Punia to ANI

However, he claimed that the question was meant for Jyotiraditya Scindia, who recently left Congress for BJP, and not Rajasthan Deputy CM Sachin Pilot.

This comes amid the political crisis in Rajasthan, stemming from Pilot’s rebellion.

State Congress in-charge Avinash Pande said early on Monday that 109 MLAs have signed a letter expressing their trust and support to the government led by CM Ashok Gehlot.