Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal, right, with party leader Sachin Pilot, centre, and others, address the media in Mumbai, on February 19, 2026
| Photo Credit: –
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.
Provide data on illegal immigrants: Pilot
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.
Non-committal on meeting with Sharad Pawar
On the matter of a potential meeting with Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, who was elected to the Rajya Sabha recently, Mr. Pilot remained non-committal. “We will discuss this issue only after internal party discussions. There has been no discussion in this regard at present,” he said.
Continuing his offensive against the Central Government, Mr. Pilot accused the government of pursuing policies that are “anti-farmer” and lacking accountability. He pledged that the opposition would persistently demand answers and stand in solidarity with the farming community and the citizens of India. “This government’s intent and policies are anti-farmer, and there is no accountability. The opposition will continue to demand answers from the government and stand with farmers and the people of India,” he concluded.
Published – February 20, 2026 11:49 am IST
