'Rumour' about Air Force pilots who bombed Aizawl in 1966 is 'unwarranted': If we trust his son "At least Rajesh Pilot did not do so"

 “He who dares not offend cannot be honest.”
~ Thomas Paine 

But in today's era of social media and whatsapp industry, rumour mongering is more often an offending venture and the protagonists involved need not be 'honest' !

It's all the more unwarranted as one person whose name has been dragged in the controversy around Aizawl bombing is Late Rajesh Pilot, a former Congress leader and a former Air Force 'pilot'. 

Late Rajesh Pilot and his wife

Pilot's son, Sachin Pilot categorically wrote in X, the new avtar of Twitter. 

"You have the wrong dates, wrong facts…," he directed his missive to BJP's IT cell chief Amit Malviya.

"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. He (Rajesh Pilot) was commissioned into the IAF only on 29th October 1966! (Certificate attached)". This should end the row especially about Rajesh Pilot, who is no longer in this world. 

Unfortunately in the past in 2011 (Indian Express by Shekhar Gupta) and also by NewsLaundry (2015) references were made that Rajesh Pilot and Kalmadi were involved in the bombing.

One can argue, Sachin Pilot was in the ruling UPA in 2011 and thus should have issued the same denial. Still as the issue relates to his deceased father, in principle I agree with him.

Moreover, other details about the operation in 1966 is dubbed as 'classified' by the government sources.

Of course Amit Malviya's tweet spoke about another 'Congress leader' -- Suresh Kalmadi, also a former Minister. A former lawmaker from prestigious Pune Lok Sabha constituency in jail, he also hit headlines for his alleged involvement in Commonwealth Games scam.

He was charged with conspiracy, forgery, misconduct and under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and later arrested for the same in 2014. 

Kalmadi 

Even Wikipedia says Suresh Kalmadi joined the National Defence Academy in 1960 and was commissioned as a pilot in the Indian Air Force, serving between 1964 and 1972. He then became an instructor with the Air Force Training Team of the NDA from 1972 to 1974 before retiring from the IAF as a squadron leader. 

Of course, just because he was in service, it does not prove Suresh Kalmadi was involved in the Mizoram Operation. 

Meanwhile, another tweet says, "The claim of Rajesh Pilot, Kalmadi dropping bomb was made by Assam Govt's fact finding committee". However, if we move beyond the row revolving around who 'Done it' in Aizawl in 1966; in the contemporary setting there is an interesting politics unfolding now vis-a-vis Rajasthan politics.  

The controversy on two pilots started again in political space after BJP leader Amit Malviya tweeted - “Rajesh Pilot and Suresh Kalmadi were flying the Indian Air Force planes that bombed Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram, on 5 March 1966. Later, both became MPs on Congress tickets and ministers in the government. It is clear that Indira Gandhi gave respect and a place in politics as a reward to those who carried out air raids on their own people in the North East".

It is a common knowledge that Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot does not share good relation with Sachin Pilot. 

But lately he tweeted: 

“Congress leader Shri Rajesh Pilot was a brave pilot of the Indian Air Force (IAF). By insulting him, the BJP is insulting the sacrifice of the IAF. The whole country should condemn this”. 

The Congress sources say the 'truce' efforts made by high command between these warring chieftains have worked. Gehlot has started believing, he may get second chance to continue even after elections. Although it is a fact Rajasthan Chief Ministers or parties generally fail to return to power for two consecutive terms. Secondly, Gehlot almost gave away party president's post and preferred 'retaining' Chief Ministership. 

The big prize passed on to Mallikarjun Kharge only after that episode as the 'family' and the high command were determined not to give any opportunity to articulate lawmaker Shashi Tharoor.  

For his part, Sachin Pilot now has 'reconciled' to the reality of waiting patiently! 

 

The BJP on Thursday announced two key election committees for the Congress-run Rajasthan, with former chief minister Vasundhara Raje not finding place in either of them. 

Importantly however,  besides Raje,  former state president and deputy leader of opposition Satish Poonia, leader of opposition Rajendra Rathore and Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat are also not in any of the two committees. 

Whether, Ms Raje will be projected as the chief ministerial face remains to be seen. 

The 21-member election management committee is headed by former MP Narayan Panchariya. Union minister Arjun Ram Meghwal will lead the election manifesto panel.

When asked why Raje's name did not figure,  BJP state in-charge Arun Singh said, ''She is the national vice president of the party. She has a big role to play. She has been the chief minister of the state twice. She will campaign in the election. We all respect her".

ends