Rahul Gandhi Addresses Loco Pilots' Issues, Modi Govt Takes Action

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's interaction with loco pilots in Sultanpur spurred the Modi government to address their issues. During his visit, Gandhi also engaged with a cobbler and criticized the BJP for the harsh conditions faced by railway workers and daily wage laborers.

Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, engaged with loco pilots in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, on Friday. Congress's social media platform, X, reported that following Rahul Gandhi's discussion with the loco pilots, the Modi administration began addressing their concerns.

In Sultanpur, Gandhi also met with a local cobbler. Congress tweeted: 'Today, Leader of Opposition Mr. @RahulGandhi met the loco pilots in Sultanpur. Recently, he addressed their concerns about challenging working conditions. Subsequently, the Modi government started focusing on their issues. Loco pilots are the backbone of the railways. It's vital to provide them with necessary facilities and humane working conditions to ensure railway safety. We will work towards justice for them.'

On July 7, Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP-led central government of neglecting railway loco pilots after meeting with them at New Delhi Railway Station. The loco pilots had raised issues of long working hours and inadequate facilities. Criticizing PM Modi, Gandhi remarked that the lives of the loco pilots had 'derailed' under the BJP regime, referring to them as 'Railways Ka Agniveer.'

In a video post on X, Gandhi highlighted that loco pilots work over 14 hours a day without essential amenities like urinals in locomotives, enduring harsh conditions. He claimed that 'non-movement' railway workers are benefiting from the bulk of the allocated budget.

The video depicted loco pilots alleging human rights violations and calling for an 8-9 hour work shift, basic facilities such as urinals and air-conditioning in locomotives, and a cap on two consecutive night shifts. On July 6, Gandhi met with street vendors and daily wage labourers in GTB Nagar, Delhi, where he criticized the BJP government, stating that daily wage workers live in severe hardship.

Gandhi reiterated that these workers sustain their households for four days with a day's earnings. In a video on X, he argued that the families of laborers contributing to India's development are in peril and underscored the plight of workers surviving on minimal daily earnings.

The video showed Gandhi interacting with the public, addressing their grievances, and engaging with laborers at a construction site in Gopalpur. (ANI)

(With inputs from agencies.)