Rahul Gandhi visits Anand Vihar railway station, wears 'coolie' attire, carries load

Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi made a symbolic appearance on September 21 at Delhi's Anand Vihar railway station, connecting with the hardworking porters, commonly known as "coolies," and auto drivers to hear their concerns. During his visit, Gandhi donned the iconic red shirt traditionally worn by porters and even carried luggage on his shoulders. 

Gandhi engaged in conversations with the laborers, taking the time to understand their daily challenges and hardships. Speaking about the visit, a witness at Anand Vihar Railway Station expressed their happiness, stating, "Extremely happy that Rahul Gandhi met auto drivers and coolies here (Anand Vihar). He said he will put forth our issues in front of the government,"

The Congress party shared the heartwarming moment on the microblogging platform X (formerly known as Twitter) by posting a photograph of Rahul Gandhi interacting with the porters. Their tweet highlighted his commitment to the people, saying, "People's hero Rahul Gandhiji met his porter friends at the Anand Vihar railway station in Delhi today. Recently, a video had gone viral in which the Porter friends of the railway station had expressed their desire to meet him.”

This visit to Anand Vihar Railway Station comes after months of appeals from porters who sought Rahul Gandhi's understanding of their issues and his dedication to improving their working conditions. In the previous month, Gandhi visited Leh-Ladakh, where he interacted with locals to gain insights into their concerns and challenges.

This is not the first time Rahul Gandhi has engaged with various sections of society. Earlier, he made a surprise visit to Delhi's Bengali Market and Jama Masjid area, indulging in local cuisine and exploring the culture. He also spent time in the Mukherjee Nagar area, engaging with UPSC aspirants, and visited Delhi University's PG Men's Hostel, where he joined students for lunch.

Rahul Gandhi's commitment to understanding and addressing the issues faced by different segments of society is evident in his interactions. From late-night truck journeys to conversations with truck drivers at dhabas to visits to farmers during the paddy planting season, he continues to connect with the people of India during his Bharat Jodo Yatra, which took him from Kanyakumari to Kashmir.