Sachin Pilot demands transparent probe into Ajit Pawar’s death

Sachin Pilot urges a transparent investigation into Ajit Pawar's death, linking it to personal loss and safety concerns.

Congress leader Sachin Pilot called for a high-level, time-bound and transparent inquiry into the accident involving Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, drawing a parallel with his own personal tragedy to underscore safety concerns.

Mr. Pilot, who lost his father in a vehicular accident, emphasised that such incidents transcend political lines and necessitate a thorough investigation to uncover the facts. “I lost my father; it was an accident. But such incidents raise serious questions about our safety. A high-level, transparent, and time-bound inquiry should be conducted to bring out the truth in the case of Ajit Pawar ji,” Mr. Pilot told reporters during a press conference in Mumbai on Thursday (February 19, 2026).

In a sharp critique of the ruling party at the Centre, Mr. Pilot accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of selectively raising the issue of infiltration for electoral gains. He asserted that securing the nation’s borders is the exclusive domain and responsibility of the Central government, not the State police.

“When elections approach, the BJP raises the bogey of infiltrators. The responsibility for border security lies squarely with the Central government, whether it is West Bengal or Bihar. It is the Central forces that guard the borders,” Mr. Pilot stated.

He challenged the government to provide data on illegal immigrants, asserting that if such individuals are present, the onus is on the administration to deport them. “If the border has been under the Centre’s control for 11 years, how have illegal immigrants entered? This issue should not be politicised. The government must disclose the information and send them back to their respective countries,” he demanded.

Responding to queries about the leadership of the opposition INDIA bloc, Mr. Pilot stressed that decisions regarding the alliance’s future are a collective prerogative. “Such decisions have to be taken unanimously. No single party can take them alone. We are all working together, and the INDIA alliance is strong and doing very well,” he affirmed.