Sachin Pilot talks about Mangalore pub attack, Young Turks in next elections and more
Sachin Pilot, 31, is on the frontline of change in Indian politics. He is one of the Young Turks, along with Rahul Gandhi, Omar Abdullah, Jyotiraditya Scindia and others who are changing the way our politicians are seen to talk, look, act, think.
At 26, Sachin became the youngest Member of Parliament, winning from his deceased father Rajesh Pilot's Dausa constituency by more than 1.2 lakh votes. A Wharton graduate who's most at home in rural Rajasthan, he is one of the most prominent faces of a new India.
MiD DAY kicks off its countdown to the Lok Sabha elections Polling Stones interviewing the Congress leader at his Tyagraj Marg house.
We have achieved economic liberalisation, so perhaps it is for young leaders like you to look at social liberalisation. There are still reports about girls being beaten up in a Mangalore pub or dowry deaths in Rajasthan villages.
It is something we should all be concerned about it. The 21st century is calling upon people of India to evolve into more a civilised, more accepting, more open and more transparent society.
The attack in Mangalore, the cultural policing, is completely unacceptable. There is a rule of law. If someone is breaking that law, they should be prosecuted.
In the name of god, sometimes the Bajrang Dal, sometimes the Sri Ram Sene do exactly the opposite of what our gods have preached. They have no right to use those names. It was a very calculated move to get media attention. TV cameras were there while the women were beaten. Hindu society, our civilisation, our culture does not permit any of these actions. I am glad these people have been apprehended, but stronger action needs to be taken so that it acts as a deterrent.
There is a great deal of disenchantment among Indian youngsters about politics, especially after 26/11. However, they have hope on the younger lot, like you, Omar, Rahul and Jyotiraditya.
Younger politicians certainly bring with them a certain imagination, energy, creativity which should be welcome in today's politics. Congress President Sonia Gandhi was the first to capture the energy of youth. She brought a lot of people like me to frontline of Indian politics. Before 2004, the word young and MP were never used in the same sentence. Now, even other parties are encouraging younger people. At 82 or 83, Advaniji is blogging.
Everybody is trying to cash in on the youth vote bank, which again is a good thing. We have enforced a positive change. We as a party can take some credit for that. It is a good thing when educated, young, qualified people come into politics.
Will we get an Indian Obama? The US is a very different country. We have so many different regions and areas, differences in culture and language and backgrounds.
Your father was an outspoken leader. Are you outspoken too? I think so. On issues that are important to me I do tend to speak my mind and I think in a democratic set-up it is also important to have diverse views.
Like him, do you insist on driving your car yourself? When I am in Rajasthan or I am traveling in rural India, I enjoy driving. It is something I have grown up doing.
Where are you going to fight this election from? My constituency (Dausa) has become reserved after the new delimitation exercise. The party will decide where it wants me to contest from. Whatever the Congress high command decides I will be happy to do that.
It is in the air that you would be fielded from South Delhi. Ideally, I would like to be in my home state Rajasthan from where I am MP currently. But finally, the party has to take a decision.
Would you be equally at ease both in an urban and a rural seat? I think so. But there is a lot more potential to work in a rural area. But compulsions are changing. Even in rural areas you will have urbanised parts.
What's your gut feeling about this election? We will come with a much, much more comfortable majority than we have now.
