Surprises and Rahul Gandhi, have off late become synonymous. Leader of Opposition (LoP) and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, once again switched to the unexpected, riding a cab, putting to test the abilities of his security guards.
In a post on X, the video, which is over 11 minutes long, shows Rahul Gandhi booking the cab ride through the Uber app. During the ride with security guards seated in the rear seat, the LoP enquires about the challenges faced by cab drivers from driver Sunil Uapdhyay, originally hailing from Etah district of Uttar Pradesh.
He drew attention to the difficulties faced by gig workers in India, including cab drivers and delivery agents. The video showed his interaction with the Uber driver and subsequent meet with the driver’s family.
The driver details his difficulties, including low income and lack of social security. He also revealed his plans of returning to his village due to these challenges which had made it difficult to meet his ends.
In his X post, Gandhi stated in Hindi, “They are barely surviving on ‘hand to mouth income’ — no savings and no foundation for the family’s future.” Gandhi pledged that Congress governments in various states would create robust policies to address these issues. Furthermore, he assured that the INDIA bloc would work towards nationwide implementation of these measures.
Gandhi also highlighted a specific example of policy action from Congress-ruled Rajasthan, where the government has mandated pensions for gig workers. He engaged in a discussion with driver Sunil Upadhyay, a representative of the gig worker community, who underscored the need for fair income and the establishment of a minimum wage.
Following the ride, Gandhi visited the driver’s family for lunch at a Delhi restaurant. He emphasised that Congress governments are actively considering the needs of gig workers and assured that INDIA ‘janbandhan’ would ensure comprehensive implementation of supportive policies.
He reassured his dedication to work for securing social benefits for gig workers and their families, promising that Congress governments would address their hardships through effective policy reforms.
