Rahul Gandhi Meets Sanitation Workers, Scoffs at Government's Development Agenda

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi today attended a protest meeting of sanitation workers at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, where he made a pro-poor pitch and took on the Narendra Modi government on the issue of development and land acquisition.

"I'm not just speaking about sanitation workers. But I'm addressing all weaker sections of the society," he said.

Referring to his two-day visit to Chhattisgarh, which ended yesterday, he said the owner of a coal mine earns Rs 1 crore every day. "But farmers are shooed off with just Rs 50,000 when his land his destroyed," he said.

Referring to the Formula One racing tracks built in Noida, he said that "entertain ourselves there and call development and modernisation".

"The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, thinks he can make any sort of promise," he said.  "When the army of India (workers and farmers) stands, nobody can challenge you. We will ensure that your demands are met."

This was the Congress vice president's third address to Delhi's sanitation workers, who had been on a strike last week over non-payment of salary. He had shown solidarity with them, joining them at the protest site in East Delhi and promising that he had all the time to give them, unlike the leaders of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party or the BJP.

On the occasion, he had attacked both the Delhi government and the Centre, alleging that both were indulging in blame game and giving "excuses".

The 12-day strike was called off on Friday after Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung announced that Rs 493 crore will be released to the capital's civic bodies to pay their salaries.

But the sanitation workers are now claiming that the money has only been partially released and no permanent solution has been found.

The Congress was wiped out in the Delhi Assembly elections held in February. After three successive terms, the party had been unable to win a single seat.