New Delhi: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Sunday once again raised issues related to loco pilots. Rahul said that the 'Bharat' alliance will raise voice in Parliament for their rights and improvement in working conditions. Rahul Gandhi posted a video of his recent conversation with a loco pilot at New Delhi Railway Station on 'X'. The Congress MP said that the lives of loco pilots have completely derailed under the Narendra Modi-led government. He said that loco pilots are forced to work for 16-16 hours sitting in the scorching heat of the cabin.
Loco pilot issue in parliamentRahul Gandhi said in a post that those on whom the lives of millions of people depend have no confidence in their own lives. Deprived of even basic facilities like 'urinals', loco pilots have no limit on working hours and neither do they get any leave. Due to this, they are becoming physically and mentally ill. The Congress leader said that making loco pilots drive trains in such conditions is putting their lives and the lives of passengers at risk. Gandhi said that the 'Bharat' alliance will raise its voice in Parliament for the rights and improvement in working conditions of loco pilots.
What did Rahul show in the video?
Sharing the video of the conversation, Gandhi said that you can also feel their pain by watching this short discussion. In the video, the loco pilot has complained to Gandhi about lack of rest, no leave and 'inhuman working conditions'. The South Zone President of the 'All India Loco Running Staff Association' on Saturday submitted a memorandum to Gandhi regarding loco pilots, in which poor working conditions were blamed for the recent rail accidents.
R. Kumaresan played a key role in organising the interaction between Gandhi and the loco pilots at the New Delhi Railway Station on Friday. Kumaresan said he wanted to draw Gandhi's attention to the “serious safety issues” faced by loco pilots and passengers in the railways. Train drivers' unions have also refuted the railways' claim that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi met loco pilots who were not from the Delhi division but were brought in from outside.
Rahul had met loco pilots at New Delhi Railway Station on Friday, following which the Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of Northern Railway (NR) said that it appears that the loco pilots whom Gandhi met were not from the 'crew lobby' (designated place for loco pilots) of New Delhi Railway Station. Delhi division comes under Northern Railway. The Rae Bareli MP had spoken to the loco pilots and learnt about their problems and challenges. Gandhi had assured them that he would raise their issues in Parliament. Party sources said Gandhi met around 50 loco pilots from across the country at New Delhi Railway Station and they told him about their problems.
