‘We should be ashamed’: Rahul, Priyanka seek help for labourers walking from Delhi

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and his sister, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, have called for assistance to thousands of labourers who have been walking to their homes from Delhi due to the ongoing nationwide lockdown.

In a tweet on Saturday, Rahul wrote, "Today, hundreds of our brothers and sisters, including the hungry and thirsty families, have to walk towards their villages. Please bless those with food, water, shelter on this difficult path! I particularly appeal for help from Congress workers and leaders."

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday tweeted, "We should not do this to desperate Indians. We should be ashamed that we have left them in this condition. These are our own. Labour is the backbone of the country. Please help them.” Priyanka attached a video from the Uttar Pradesh Congress that showed scores of people walking at night on the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border. The Uttar Pradesh Congress handle tweeted on Friday that the labourers were denied entry to Uttar Pradesh and turned back.

The Uttar Pradesh Congress tweeted, “Chief Minister of UP @myogiadityanath Must have slept Delhi's chief minister @ArvindKejriwal Yes, you must have gone to sleep. But the workers who reached the Delhi-UP border on foot, have been sent back by the police. There is neither a DTC bus to carry them nor food for them.”

In a video message on Friday, Priyanka said she was pained at seeing them walk for many kilometres in their bid to reach their homes and be with their families. "I am pained at seeing thousands of migrant labourers walk down towards Uttar Pradesh from the Delhi border. They are poor people and is it not our duty to help them?" she asked.

"When so many people were stranded abroad, we sent aircraft to get them back. Everyone wants to stay with their families during such times of crisis. We must help them and I urge the government to help them. We all political parties must unite in helping such people in distress. UP Congress has formed a highway task force to help such people," Priyanka said in her video message.

She also tweeted, "A tragic situation has arisen on the border of Delhi, with thousands of people leaving for their homes on foot. No means, no food."

"Corona's terror, unemployment and fear of hunger are pushing their feet home towards their villages. I pray to the government, please help them," she said in a tweet in Hindi.

Congress leader Ahmed Patel said, "We are concerned about migrant workers walking on empty highways. The Central Govt must issue a directive to enable one time train/bus service so these people can reach home. If we can evacuate Indians stranded in foreign soil, why not assist those stranded on domestic soil?"

Congress spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill tweeted, "Appeal to Central Govt -Deploy Special Buses for stranded labourers and those walking home.”