Will put across porters' demands to govt, fight for their rights: Rahul

Congress MP and Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said porters at New Delhi railway station risked their lives to help people during the stampede last month, but their voices were not being heard as they faced financial difficulties, and asserted that he would fight for their rights.

The former Congress president posted a video on his YouTube channel of his recent interaction with porters at the station, and wrote in a post accompanying the video: "A few days ago, I reached New Delhi Railway Station and met the porter brothers there again. During the interaction, they told me how everyone together made every possible effort to save people's lives on the day of the stampede.

"Whether it was trying to remove people from the crowd, ensuring that the injured reached the ambulance and administration, or taking out the bodies of the dead — using their physical abilities, handcarts or spending money from their own pockets, they helped the passengers in every way."

Gandhi thanked the porters for saving many lives and helping in the relief work during the stampede, which took place at the station on 15 February. As per official figures, at least 18 people were killed in the stampede as a massive crowd of passengers waited to board trains for Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad) to visit the Maha Kumbh. Tragically, the stampede appeared to be triggered by a confusing announcement regarding platform numbers, as passengers rushed to find seats on trains before they became overcrowded.

The Congress leader said, "I am very impressed to see the compassion of these brothers who come to earn daily wages. They are still living in financial difficulties — but are full of passion and goodwill. They need help, about which they conveyed their demands. I will definitely make every possible effort to help them," Gandhi said.

In a post in Hindi on X, the Congress leader quoted a porter as saying, "Some days we don't even have money to eat. We either send money home or eat food."

Our porter brothers are forced to live in such difficulties, he said in his post on X. "During the stampede at New Delhi railway station, these people risked their lives to help people, but their voice is not being heard. I will put their demands before the government and fight with all my might for their rights!" Gandhi wrote.

In the video, the porters also tell Gandhi that their demand is that they get Group D employment.

In September 2023, Gandhi had made a similar visit to Delhi's Anand Vihar railway station and interacted at length with porters to know their concerns.

With PTI inputs