Congress leader Rahul Gandhi recently embarked on an overnight “yatra” with truck drivers, aiming to understand their challenges and concerns. The journey took place on the Delhi-Chandigarh highway, during which Gandhi had conversations with the drivers and shared his experiences through a video.
Donning his signature white T-shirt, Rahul Gandhi appeared in the video, sitting inside a truck and engaging in discussions with fellow drivers at a dhaba. He tweeted in Hindi, describing the interesting conversations he had during the six-hour Delhi-Chandigarh journey. The video, lasting 35 seconds, provided a glimpse into his time on the road. Additionally, Gandhi shared a link to the complete video on his YouTube page.
As part of his ongoing efforts to connect with the people, Gandhi met and interacted with a group of truck drivers at a dhaba in Murthal on NH-44. From there, he traveled to Chandigarh on a truck while en route to Shimla. During the journey, he decided to accompany a truck driver named Prem Rajpoot from Firozabad, Uttar Pradesh. Gandhi’s conversation with Rajpoot and his companion, Rakesh, made the six-hour trip pass quickly, according to a statement from the Congress party.
The complete video sheds light on an important issue—the direct employment of three crore Indians in the truck industry and the annual demand for nine lakh new truck drivers, as reported. However, an independent study revealed that approximately 98 percent of truck drivers, including Prem Rajpoot, do not want their family members to join the profession. The report also highlighted the drivers’ grievances regarding police harassment and low, irregular income.
These figures reflected the same challenges faced by truck drivers that were conveyed to Rahul Gandhi during his conversations with them. In response, Gandhi assured them that the Congress party would make every effort to improve their conditions if elected to power.
Rahul Gandhi has been actively engaging with common Indians and listening to their voices regularly. His interactions have taken him to various sections of society, including visits to Old Delhi, meeting students in Mukherjee Nagar and Delhi University, and taking rides on a BMTC Bus and Blinkit Bike in Bengaluru. This ongoing process of listening to people is reminiscent of his Bharat Jodo Yatra, where he made it a priority to connect with the concerns and aspirations of the citizens.
Rahul Gandhi’s overnight “yatra” with truck drivers on the Delhi-Chandigarh highway aimed to understand their problems firsthand. Through conversations and a video shared on social media, Gandhi shed light on the challenges faced by truck drivers, such as low income, police harassment, and the reluctance of drivers to have their family members join the profession. He assured the drivers that the Congress party would strive to improve their situation if given the opportunity. This initiative is part of Gandhi’s ongoing efforts to connect with people and listen to their concerns across different segments of society.
