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Rajesh Pilot | |
|---|---|
 Rajesh Pilot on a 2008 stamp of India | |
| Minister of state Home affairs | |
| In office 1993–1995 | |
| Prime Minister | P. V. Narasimha Rao |
| Minister of Telecommunications | |
| In office 1991–1993 | |
| Prime Minister | P. V. Narasimha Rao |
| Minister of Surface Transport | |
| In office 1995–1996 | |
| Prime Minister | Rajiv Gandhi P. V. Narasimha Rao |
| In office 1985–1989 | |
| Member of theIndian Parliament forDausa | |
| In office January 1991 – 11 June 2000 | |
| Preceded by | Nathu Singh |
| Succeeded by | Rama Pilot |
| In office 1984–1989 | |
| Preceded by | Nawal Kishore Sharma |
| Succeeded by | Nathu Singh |
| Member of theIndian Parliament forBharatpur | |
| In office 1980–1984 | |
| Preceded by | Ram Kishan |
| Succeeded by | Natwar Singh |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Rajeshwar Prasad Bidhuri (1945-02-10)10 February 1945 |
| Died | 11 June 2000(2000-06-11) (aged 55) |
| Political party | Indian National Congress |
| Spouse | Rama Pilot |
| Children | 2, includingSachin Pilot |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  India |
| Branch |  Indian Air Force |
| Years of service | 1966–1979 |
| Rank |  Squadron Leader |
| Battles / wars | Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 |
Squadron LeaderRajeshwar Prasad Bidhuri (10 February 1945 – 11 June 2000), also known asRajesh Pilot (UK:/ˈrɑːdʒɪʃpɑːɪllʌtə/) was an Indian politician, a minister in theGovernment of India and a formerIndian Air Force officer. He belonged to theIndian National Congress party and represented theDausa constituency inLok Sabha. His original name was Rajesh Bidhuri. Rajesh Pilot died on 11 June 2000 in a car crash nearJaipur.
Rajeshwar Prasad Bidhuri was born in Vaidpura village in present-dayGreater Noida (West) and was a member of theBidhuriGurjar community.
He enlisted in the Indian Air Force.[citation needed] Rajeshwar Prasad, was commissioned in the General Duties (Pilot) branch of the Indian Air Force as apilot officer on 29 October 1966.[1] He was promoted toflying officer on 29 October 1967 and toflight lieutenant on 29 October 1971.[2][3] He fought in theIndo-Pakistan War of 1971 as a bomber pilot,[4] flying a modifiedde Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou.[5] He was promoted tosquadron leader on 29 October 1977.[6] On 8 August 1978, he was seconded to the Ministry of Agriculture.[7]
Local residents claimed that Prasad was one of the pilots, along withSuresh Kalmadi, who bombed Mizo insurgents in March 1966 during theMizo National Front uprising.[8] This issue was mentioned by Prime MinisterNarendra Modi in the Parliament in Lok Sabha in August 2023.[9][10]Sachin Pilot, son of Rajesh Pilot denied his father's involvement.[11]
In late 1979, Prasad resigned his commission while posted inJaisalmer to enter politics, under the influence of his friendRajiv Gandhi, who later became thePrime Minister of India.
He contested the 1980 Lok Sabha elections as an INC candidate from Bharatpur, changing his surname to Pilot at the same time.[4] Pilot emerged as a prominentGurjar leader in India.[12] In his first election as a candidate, Pilot defeated the former queen ofBharatpur State.
On an official visit to the Netherlands in 1988, his Dutch counterpart, learning Pilot was a former IAF officer, arranged for him to fly aRNLAFF-16; the IAF subsequently invited Pilot to test a newMiG-29 following his return to India.[5]
He sentChandraswami to prison when he was the Internal Security Minister. Later, he lost the election for the post of Congress president toSitaram Kesri, but remained in the front line of Congress leaders.
Rajesh Pilot died at theSawai Man Singh Hospital inJaipur on 11 June 2000 after his jeep collided with a State transport bus in Bhandana on his way toJaipur Airport for a flight to Delhi.[13][14]
India Post issued a commemorative postage stamp of ₹5.00 in honour of him on 11 June 2008.[citation needed]
In New Delhi andGurgaon, a road was named in his honour. InRewari, a roundabout was named after him.[citation needed]
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1980 | Won Lok Sabha elections from Bharatpur, Rajasthan |
| 1984 | Won Lok Sabha elections from Dausa, Rajasthan |
| 1985–89 | Minister for Surface Transport |
| 1987 | Set up the Jai Jawan Jai Kisan Trust |
| 1991–93 | Minister for Telecommunication, Government of India |
| 1993–95 | Minister for Internal Security, Government of India |
| 1995–96 | Minister for Surface Transport |
| 1996 | Won Lok Sabha elections from Dausa, Rajasthan |
| 1999 | Won Lok Sabha elections from Dausa, Rajasthan |
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 |  |  |  |
| Poorvi Star Special Service Medal | |||
| Sangram Medal | Sainya Seva Medal | 25th Anniversary Independence Medal | 9 Years Long Service Medal |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
