Rahul Gandhi meets blue-collared workers in Dubai

Dubai - Congress President Rahul Gandhi met with the Indian worker's community in a camp in Jebel Ali.

Right from the moment he landed at the Dubai Airport on Thursday, January 10, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) leader Rahul Gandhi was greeted by an unprecedented crowd wherever he went.
From a talk with the workers' community in Jebel Ali and the reception lunch at the Indian Business and Professional Council (IBPC), the Indian community showed up in large numbers to express their support for the young leader.
The day's events started with Rahul Gandhi and Sam Pitroda, chairman of Indian Overseas Congress meet with business leaders at breakfast hosted by GEMS Education chairman Sunny Varkey. The breakfast was also attended by Indian Ambassador to the UAE Navdeep Singh Suri and several other business leaders.
However, India's opposition leader kicked -off his two - day public visit to the UAE on Friday and Saturday, January 11 and 12, with a visit to a blue-collared workers camp in Jebel Ali. The former chief minister of Kerala Oommen Chandy was also present. Over a thousand workers waited eagerly to meet Gandhi as he called the workers 'the people who make India shine abroad' since 3 am.
Hundreds of blue collared workers cheered jubilantly when INC president met with the Indian worker's community in a camp in Jebel Ali. Addressing the workers in Hindi, he asked, "Should I speak in Hindi or English?"
The workers' shouted back 'Hindi' loudly, and Gandhi continued, "I realise you face several hardships here in UAE. You work all day, send money to your family back home... I am here because I want to tell you that I am with you for whatever you need. We are here for you... I am here to listen to you." Many continued to shout 'Rahul- Rahul', and gifted him with flowers and took selfies with the leader.
Continuing his speech, Rahul added, "I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. Dubai's success, the success of the Emirates, the development here, the big airports, the metro, all of this would not have been possible without you."
He said, "Your time, your sweat, the blood that you have given to this country... It has made India proud. People of all castes, creed, religion, and colour in India are proud of you." After the morning event at the camp, the workers also reached the stadium to cheer Rahul. 
dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com
 

• UAE
• Dubai