NEW DELHI:

Congress

MP and leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha,

Rahul Gandhi

, on Monday highlighted the

hardships

faced by

gig workers

. He also asserted that states, where the Congress party is in power, would make concrete policies to solve their problems
The Raebareli MP posted a video of himself taking an

Uber ride

and having a conversation with the

cab driver

named Sunil Upadhyay.

In his post on X, Gandhi wrote in Hindi, “Aamdani kam aur mehengai se nikalta dum – ye hai Bharat ke gig wokers ki vyatha”. “Low income and inflation ruining lives — this is the plight of India’s gig workers! In discussion with Sunil Upadhyay ji during a Uber ride and then, after meeting his family, took stock of the problems faced by gig workers such as cab drivers and delivery agents in the country,” he said.

Rahul Gandhi further said that Congress-led state governments would develop solid policies to address their issues, while the INDIA “Janabandhan” would work towards implementing these policies nationwide.
He added in the post, “They are barely surviving on ‘hand to mouth income’ — no savings and no foundation for the family’s future. To solve these, the state governments of the Congress will do justice by making concrete policies.”

The video, which is over 11 minutes long, shows Gandhi taking a cab ride after booking it through the Uber app. During the ride, he engages in a conversation with the driver, who is originally from Etah, Uttar Pradesh, and asks about the challenges he faces. The driver shares his struggles, including low rates for drivers, lack of social security, and the difficulty of making ends meet in Delhi. He also expresses thoughts of returning to his village due to these hardships.
Gandhi ends the ride and hands over a gift for the children of the cab driver.
The day following the ride, Gandhi is seen having lunch with the cab driver’s family at a restaurant in Delhi. He reassures them that Congress governments in various states are considering the welfare of gig workers and expresses his commitment to ensuring social security for the drivers and their families.
The INDIA ‘janbandhan’ will ensure their nationwide implementation with full force, Gandhi said in his post.