WATCH: Rahul Gandhi Interacts With Singareni Coal Mines Workers

Gandhi, during his visit to Telangana earlier, had assured the workers that Singareni Collieries would not be privatised and claimed that there was an attempt to sell it to Adani, which they opposed.

File Photo Of Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi

Source : PTI Images

Voicing concerns over the "privatisation of mines," Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday (November 1) alleged that it violates labour laws and forces workers into "bonded" labour. He shared a video of his recent interaction with workers from the Singareni Coal Mines in Telangana.

In the video, posted on Gandhi's YouTube channel, he conveys the Congress party's clear stance against privatisation in strategic sectors. During his visit to Singareni, Gandhi engaged with the workers, discussing their issues and concerns.

"A few days ago, I had the opportunity to meet and talk to the workers and employees of the coal mines in Singareni. After listening to their problems, I realized that the root cause of every issue is the privatisation of mines," Gandhi stated in his video post.

He continued, "This privatisation not only violates labour laws but also leads to workers becoming trapped in bonded labour. Only a few capitalists will benefit from this, perpetuating the rich-poor divide as I have been warning for a long time."

In the video, the workers urged Gandhi to ensure that the Congress party includes its opposition to such privatisation in its manifesto, as this move appears to primarily benefit a select few.

In a subsequent Hindi-language post on X, Gandhi alleged, "After meeting the Singareni coal mines workers, it became clear that their exploitation is part of a larger conspiracy. The privatisation of Indian mines, importing expensive coal from abroad, and subsequently raising electricity bills to burden the public… The Prime Minister has imposed a 'hidden tax' that is eroding the country like termites - Adani Tax!"

Take A Look At The Post Here: 

सिंगरेनी कोयला खदान के मज़दूरों से मिल कर पता चला, उनका शोषण बड़ी साज़िश का हिस्सा है।

भारतीय खदानों का निजीकरण, विदेश से महंगा कोयला लाना, फिर बिजली का बिल बढ़ा कर जनता की जेब काटना…

प्रधानमंत्री ने देश को दीमक की तरह खोखला करने वाला एक ‘hidden tax’ लगा रखा है - Adani Tax! pic.twitter.com/rFfitKv4bj

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) November 1, 2023

Gandhi, during his visit to Telangana last month, had assured the workers that Singareni Collieries would not be privatised and claimed that there was an attempt to sell it to Adani, which they successfully opposed.

Throughout his journey, including the Bharat Jodo Yatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, Gandhi has been engaging with various sections of society, including mechanics, porters, students, and carpenters, to connect with.