Rahul Gandhi Meets Loco Pilots and Hathras Victims’ Families; Scheduled to Visit Gujarat Today

Engaging with Affected Communities: Rahul Gandhi meets loco pilots in New Delhi and families of Hathras tragedy victims; gears up for Gujarat visit to support fire and bridge collapse victims.

Rahul Gandhi :

 New Delhi: On Friday, Rahul Gandhi paid a visit to the New Delhi Railway Station to meet loco pilots. However, the Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of Northern Railway, Deepak Kumar, stated that the crew members with whom the Leader of Opposition had discussions were not from their lobby, suggesting they may have been brought from outside.

“Today at around 12:45 pm, Rahul Gandhi arrived at New Delhi Railway Station. He inspected our crew lobby accompanied by 7-8 cameramen. He visited our crew lobby to observe how we book our crew lobby. After coming out, he engaged in a discussion with a few people, including 7-8 crew members who were not from our lobby, indicating they might have been brought from outside. He was filming them and making reels,” CPRO Deepak Kumar informed ANI.

Kumar emphasized, “The loco-pilots were not from our lobby. It seems they were brought from outside.”

Rahul Gandhi’s visit comes after meeting families affected by the Hathras stampede earlier in the day. 

Hathras: Earlier on Friday, Rahul Gandhi visited Hathras to meet the families of victims of the July 2 tragedy during a religious ‘Satsang’ event of self-styled godman Suraj Pal alias ‘Bhole Baba’ in Fulari village, Uttar Pradesh, which claimed 121 lives. On his way, he also stopped in Aligarh to meet more victims’ families. Expressing his condolences, Gandhi aimed to understand their situation.

Speaking to the media, he said, “It is a sad incident. Many lives have been lost. I am not approaching this from a political perspective but addressing the deficiencies of the administration. The main priority should be to provide maximum compensation to the poor families affected by this tragedy. I request CM Yogi Adityanath to provide compensation with an open heart.”

Gandhi further mentioned that the families told him there was no police presence at the event, which contributed to the chaos. “If there is a delay in providing compensation, it will not help anyone. I spoke with the families, and they told me there was no police arrangement at the venue. They are in shock, and I wanted to understand their situation,” he said.

Congress Statement: The Congress party, in a post on ‘X,’ highlighted Gandhi’s meeting with loco pilots, stating, “Leader of Opposition Shri @RahulGandhi met the loco pilots at New Delhi Railway Station. These loco pilots are the backbone of the railways, which is called the lifeline of the country. Making their lives simpler and safer will be a strong step towards railway safety.”

Gandhi’s interaction with loco pilots comes weeks after the Kanchenjunga Express train accident in West Bengal, which claimed at least 10 lives. His visit to the railway station and subsequent activities are part of his ongoing efforts to connect with various communities and address their concerns.

Rahul Gandhi’s Upcoming Gujarat Visit

Gujarat: Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to visit Gujarat, where he will engage with the families affected by the recent fire incident at Rajkot Game Zone and the Morbi bridge collapse. His visit follows his challenge to Prime Minister Modi in the Lok Sabha, asserting that Congress will defeat the BJP in the upcoming Gujarat assembly elections.

Party Violence: Recently, after Gandhi’s comments on Hinduism in Parliament, BJP workers attacked the Congress state office in Ahmedabad, leading to violent clashes and injuries among Congress workers. Rahul Gandhi will meet these injured workers during his visit.

Congress Support: Gujarat Congress President Shaktisinh Gohil stated that Rahul Gandhi’s visit is a strong message of support to the party workers. “After the attack on our workers, we appealed to Rahul Gandhi to visit Gujarat. This visit will reassure our workers that the top leadership is with them in the fight against the BJP,” he said.

Justice for Victims: The Congress party in Gujarat is demanding justice for the victims of the May 25, 2024, fire incident at Rajkot Game Zone, which claimed 33 lives, and the October 30, 2022, Morbi bridge collapse, which resulted in 141 deaths. The party is organizing meetings with the victims’ families, ensuring they have the opportunity to meet Rahul Gandhi in Ahmedabad.

Rath Yatra: In line with tradition, Rahul Gandhi will participate in the worship of the Jagannath temple chariot before the annual Rath Yatra on July 7. He may also visit the police station to meet five Congress workers currently in custody.Rahul Gandhi’s visits and interactions reflect his ongoing commitment to addressing issues affecting various communities and ensuring that their voices are heard at the highest levels