Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for making false promises of development and assured the sanitation workers that he would fight for their rights till the end.
Addressed the 'Aakroash March' of the Valmiki Samaj at the Jantar Mantar here, Gandhi talked about the hardships of the farmers and adivasis in Chhattisgarh.
"I was in Chhattisgarh yesterday..... I saw coal mines there for the first time. I talked to the farmers and adivasis there. I would like to inform you about what they told me. The industrialists receive one crore daily from the coal mines. There is a lease of 30 years which means one crore rupees goes to him every day for 30 years. The land is grabbed from the farmers and they are given insufficient amount of Rs. 50,000. They said that they have taken the lands from the farmers for development. They ask the adivasis of Chhattisgarh to give their lands for development. They ask the farmers in Bhatta Parsaul to give their land and later Formula One track is built," said Gandhi.
"When the poor people ask, they say that it is being done for development. But when we ask as to what benefits the poor will get, we do not get any answer. We do not want such development. I had told you (the sanitation workers) earlier that you are Delhi 'sena'....I would like to tell you not to lose hope, no matter how much time passes but we will fulfil your demands. This isn't a speech for the sanitation workers, but for the weak, poor and underprivileged people of this nation. Modi ji and Kejriwal think that a change will come by just making promises. Mere promises won't bring change.... I will stand with you in whatever the situation may be. This is not a fight about cleaning Delhi and India, but a fight about your respect," he added.
The Congress vice-president has met the MCD sanitation workers twice over the last week.
