New Delhi:

 Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Monday highlighted the plight of gig workers and asserted that the Congress governments in states would make concrete policies to solve their problems while the INDIA bloc would strive for ensuring their nationwide implementation.

Mr Gandhi made the remarks on X, where he posted a video of a recent ride he took in a Uber cab and the interaction he had with the driver.

“Low income and inflation ruining lives — this is the plight of India’s gig workers! In discussion with Sunil Upadhyay ji during a Uber ride and then, after meeting his family, took stock of the problems faced by gig workers such as cab drivers and delivery agents in the country,” the former Congress chief said in Hindi on X.

आमदनी कम और महंगाई से निकलता दम – ये है भारत के gig workers की व्यथा!

सुनील उपाध्याय जी के साथ एक Uber यात्रा के दौरान चर्चा में और फिर उनके परिवार से मिल कर देश के Cab drivers और Delivery agents जैसे gig workers की समस्याओं का जायज़ा लिया।

‘हैंड टू माउथ इनकम’ में इनका गुज़ारा… pic.twitter.com/46y9o1Iul8

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 19, 2024

“They are barely surviving on ‘hand to mouth income’ — no savings and no foundation for the family’s future. To solve these, the state governments of the Congress will do justice by making concrete policies,” he said.

The INDIA ‘janbandhan’ will ensure their nationwide implementation with full force, Mr Gandhi added.

In the over-11 minute video, Mr Gandhi is seen taking a cab ride after booking a taxi through the Uber app.

He interacts with the cab driver, who belongs to Etah in Uttar Pradesh, and asks him about his problems.

The cab driver tells Mr Gandhi that he is surviving on bare minimum funds with poor rates for drivers and no social security.

He also talks about thoughts of returning to his native village, being unable to make ends meet in Delhi.

Rahul Gandhi ends the ride and hands over a gift for the children of the cab driver.

The day after the ride, Mr Gandhi is seen having lunch with the family of the cab driver at an eatery in Delhi.

Congress leader Mr Gandhi assures them that Congress governments in various states were thinking about gig workers and he wanted to ensure social security for the drivers and their families.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Bikaner:

Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Monday hit out at Rahul Gandhi for his claim that the government was trying to bypass the reservation system through lateral entry, reminding the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha that former prime minister Manmohan Singh was made the finance secretary in 1976 through the lateral entry route.

The minister also dismissed as “baseless” Rahul Gandhi’s allegation that RSS people will be hired as public servants through this mode and pointed out that it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who made the system of lateral entry methodical by giving the mandate to UPSC for framing rules. Earlier, he pointed out, there was no formal system in place for such entry into governance.

“Whatever appointments or recruitments or selections are to be done, UPSC will do it. Where is the issue of BJP, RSS in this? Baseless allegations are being made,” Arjun Meghwal told PTI Videos in Bikaner.

He said that RSS is an organisation that promotes cultural nationalism.

The minister alleged that Rahul Gandhi was trying to mislead people and tarnish the image of institutions like UPSC by “spreading lies”.

“The efforts of Rahul Gandhi, who is making such false allegations, are never going to succeed,” he said, adding that despite being the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, which is a constitutional post, Rahul Gandhi was making irresponsible statements.

“Dr Manmohn Singh was also part of the lateral entry. How did you directly make him the finance secretary in 1976?” the minister said.

He said that the then Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia entered service through the lateral entry route. He said CPP chairperson Sonia Gandhi was made head of the National Advisory Council. “The prime minister’s is a constitutional post. But is NAC a constitutional body,” he quipped adding Sonia Gandhi was placed above the prime minister.

He alleged the then prime minister Jawahar Lal Nehru had opposed reservation in 1961 and as the leader of opposition, Rajiv Gandhi opposed OBC reservation on the floor of Lok Sabha.

“You started lateral entry. Prime Minister Modi made it methodical,” he said.

The minister noted that these are contractual posts. “Suppose an environment expert becomes a deputy secretary, what is the problem… person has to be an expert in a particular field,” he said.

He said the lateral entry is open to all. “Persons of SC, ST and OBC categories also apply. IAS vacancies are different. They claim we are ending reservations. What were you doing when you were recruiting? Suddenly their love for OBCs has come out. They are trying to mislead SC, ST, OBC students,” he said.

Condemning the rape and murder of a junior doctor in Kolkata, he said that the whole country is ashamed.

“After the incident, efforts were made to destroy the evidence. It is a very shameful incident and we condemn it in very strong words,” he said.

Later, Arjun Meghwal, who is an MP from Bikaner, reached a BSF outpost in Khanuwali on the Indo-Pakistan border and celebrated the festival of Raksha Bandhan with women BSF personnel.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra shared a touching message for her brother Rahul Gandhi on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. Priyanka posted on X a collage of childhood photographs featuring the siblings. One of the pictures had the brother-sister duo in the same frame as their late father and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. 

Sharing her thoughts, Priyanka wrote in Hindi, “The relationship between a brother and a sister is like a flowerbed in which memories of different colours, stories of togetherness and the resolve to deepen the friendship flourish on the foundation of respect, love and mutual understanding.”

The collage also had a black-and-white image of Rahul and Priyanka enjoying playtime together in a small toy car. She added that brothers and sisters are “companions in struggle, companions of memories and also boatmen of companionship.”

“Happy Rakhi to all of you,” she wished. 

भाई-बहन का रिश्ता उस फुलवारी की तरह होता है जिसमें सम्मान, प्रेम और आपसी समझदारी की बुनियाद पर अलग-अलग रंगों वाली यादें, संग के किस्से-कहानियाँ व दोस्ती को और गहरा करने का संकल्प फलता-फूलता है।

भाई-बहन संघर्ष के साथी होते हैं, स्मृतियों के हमराही भी और संगवारी के खेवैया भी।… pic.twitter.com/4zkX1rISrN

— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) August 19, 2024

Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi also posted a picture with his sister and extended his wishes for Raksha Bandhan, celebrating the “unbreakable love” between brothers and sisters. 

“Many congratulations and best wishes to all the countrymen on the festival of Rakshabandhan, the festival of unbreakable love and affection between brother and sister. May this thread of protection always keep your sacred relationship strong,” the Congress MP wrote on X. 

भाई-बहन के अटूट प्रेम एवं स्नेह के पर्व, रक्षाबंधन की सभी देशवासियों को बहुत-बहुत बधाई और शुभकामनाएं।

रक्षा का यह सूत्र आपके इस पावन रिश्ते को सदैव मजबूती के साथ जोड़े रहे। pic.twitter.com/Xvsqj2rt4e

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 19, 2024

This year, Raksha Bandhan, also known as Rakhi, falls on Monday, August 19. This traditional Hindu festival honours the unique and special bond between siblings. On this auspicious day, sisters tie a sacred thread, known as a rakhi, around their brothers’ wrists. This gesture symbolises the brothers’ promise to safeguard their sisters from harm and adversity. In return, brothers present gifts to their sisters as a token of their love and care. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also wished the nation on this special occasion. “May this holy festival bring new sweetness in the relationships of all of you and happiness, prosperity and good fortune in life,” he wrote.

New Delhi:

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Friday said the INDIA bloc is with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the “fight against injustice”.

Mr Gandhi made the remarks while greeting Arvind Kejriwal on his birthday. Delhi CM Kejriwal turned 56 on Friday.

“Hearty birthday wishes to Delhi Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal. I hope you stay healthy and happy,” Mr Gandhi said on X.

“INDIA is with you in this fight against injustice,” he said.

The Congress and AAP are part of the INDIA bloc at the national level.

Mr Kejriwal, who is also the AAP national convenor, was arrested by the ED on March 21 in a money laundering case linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam.

The Supreme Court has granted him interim bail in the money laundering case but he remains in jail after the CBI arrested him in a related matter.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Kolkata:

Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee – already under fire from the BJP over the rape and murder of a doctor at a Kolkata hospital – hit back at allies Congress Wednesday evening, shortly after party MP Rahul Gandhi’s acerbic comment about the handling of the case by the “local administration”.

Ms Banerjee, whose Trinamool Congress is part of the Congress-led INDIA bloc, also took on fierce rivals CPI (Marxist), declaring “heinous crimes” had been committed in Bengal while the Left party was in power and “many incidents” had been reported from Congress-ruled states.

“I want to ask Congress… how many incidents have taken place in your states… what action do you take? And under CPIM rule there were a plethora of heinous crimes (and) the then government was silent. Since there was no social media then… people were not so aware,” she declared.

Referring to iconic Left leader and former Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, who died last week, she stressed “a lot of heinous crimes took place” while he was in power from 2000 to 2011.

Hours earlier Mr Gandhi said on X that “the attempt to save the accused, instead of providing justice to the victim, raises serious questions on the hospital and the local administration”.

READ | “Attempt To Save Accused…”: Rahul Gandhi On Doctor Rape-Murder

The Congress MP’s sharp tweet, which included a reference to the horrific Nirbhaya episode in Delhi in 2012, marked an escalation in the Congress’ comments on the RG Kar rape and murder case, following careful remarks earlier by his sister, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

The Congress and the Trinamool are allies but their relationship is volatile, a state of affairs emphasised in the build-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha election, when there was heated speculation over seat-sharing. Eventually the Trinamool contested on its own, against the Left and the Congress.

Till Mr Gandhi’s tweet the Congress had maintained a guarded silence on this case.

Apart from Mamata Banerjee, senior Trinamool leader Kunal Ghosh also spoke out, calling Mr Gandhi’s allegations “baseless”. “Before making such remarks, he should check… he must not forget the dismal track record on women’s safety during the Rajiv Gandhi regime at the centre…”

“Abuse Me As Much As You Want…”

Ms Banerjee also slammed the BJP – which has launched protests demanding her resignation.

“Abuse me as much as you want… there are people running a smear campaign on social media. But do not abuse ‘Bangla Maa…'” she continued, invoking the party’s ‘Maa, Mati, Manush‘ war-cry.

Ms Banerjee holds Bengal’s Police, Home, and Health ministries, each of which places her firmly in the crosshairs of the BJP and her critics, who have demanded accountability from her and her government amid allegations of serious lapses by hospital administration and even the state police force.

READ | Why CBI Got Kolkata Doctor Rape-Murder Case: Court’s Remarks

The High Court had taken a dim view of claims by the doctors’ parents – that the police were negligent.

The cops, though, responded, saying reports they first treated the rape and murder as ‘suicide’ and rushed to cremate the body, potentially destroying evidence, were false.

Since points 1 & 2 concern Kolkata Police, we wish to clarify:
1. Reports of KP informing the family about a possible suicide are false. The family confirmed the call did not come from KP
2. ⁠KP didn’t cremate the body of deceased. It was her family who cremated her. https://t.co/ktoVv8scjZ

— Kolkata Police (@KolkataPolice) August 14, 2024

“I was in Jhargram… I was on my way when I spoke to CP (Kolkata police chief Vineet Kumar Goyal). I also spoke to the parents of the victim and assured them the police will investigate and that I want capital punishment. I stand with what I have said since the first day…” Ms Banerjee said today.

READ | Mamata Says Will Hand Over Rape-Murder Probe To CBI If…

Countering allegations the police failed to secure crucial evidence, the Chief Minister said DNA and CCTV footage was collected and that an accused – Sanjoy Roy – was arrested within 12 hours.

“I visited their residence and took stock, minute-by-minute, of the situation all night. Police also escorted the body of the victim and throughout the investigation like DNA, CCTV footage, sample testing – everything was carried out and within 12 hours the murderer was arrested.”

READ | In Doctor Rape-Murder Case, CBI Will Investigate 6 Key Issues

Roy, now in the custody of the CBI, which was handed the case by the Calcutta High Court Tuesday after it overruled Ms Banerjee’s seven-day deadline for the police to solve this case.

The court’s decision was seen as a direct attack on Ms Banerjee’s government, and she hit out firmly, saying, “For any investigation, you need to give time. I had set a deadline till Sunday. You cannot take action against anyone without proper investigation. I respect both senior and junior doctors.”

“I cannot arrest people without proper investigation.” The Bengal government, however, “will completely follow the High Court and is cooperating with CBI”, she also said.

NDTV is now available on WhatsApp channels. Click on the link to get all the latest updates from NDTV on your chat.

New Delhi:

The BJP today slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for raising questions on the integrity of Indian stock markets based on the latest allegations by  US-based short seller Hindenburg.  

“The Leader of Opposition is now openly inciting and seeding doubt about the genuineness of the Indian stock markets. This blatant attempt to undermine confidence in our economy reveals the true intention of Rahul Gandhi, which is nothing but the destruction of India,” BJP leader Amit Malviya said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).  

He said that Mr Gandhi’s remarks come despite the expert committee appointed by the Supreme Court concluding there was no regulatory failure regarding the allegations of price manipulation made by Hindenburg.

“On Jan 3, 2024, the Supreme Court, led by CJI DY Chandrachud, observed that no willful or deliberate violations were done by SEBI,” Mr Malviya said.

Rahul Gandhi had alleged that there was significant risk in the Indian stock markets and that the “integrity” of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) was “gravely compromised” by the allegations against its chairperson.

The new Hindenburg report claimed that SEBI Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch and her husband Dhaval Buch had stakes in offshore entities involved in the alleged Adani money siphoning scandal.

The SEBI Chairman and the Adani Group, however, have labelled these allegations as “baseless” and “malicious”. Madhabi Puri Buch has also pointed out that the latest release by Hindenburg comes after SEBI took enforcement action and issued a show-cause notice to them in July.

New Delhi:

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wished India grappler Vinesh Phogat luck ahead of her final match in the women’s 50 Kg freestyle category event at the ongoing Paris Olympics.

Vinesh became the first Indian to reach the Olympic final in women’s wrestling after beating Cuba’s Yusneylys Guzman 5-0 in the semi-final match on Tuesday.

Taking to social media platform X, Rahul Gandhi said that it was an emotional moment for India since Vinesh Phogat defeated the top three wrestlers to reach the final. He added that Vinesh Phogat’s success in Paris can be heard clearly in Delhi.

“Today, along with Vinesh, the entire country is emotional after defeating three top wrestlers of the world in a single day. All those who denied the struggle of Vinesh and her teammates, and even questioned their intentions and abilities, have got their answer. Today, the entire power system that had made India shed tears of blood collapsed in front of her brave daughter. This is the identity of champions, they give their answer from the field. Best wishes Vinesh. The echo of your success in Paris can be heard clearly till Delhi,” Rahul Gandhi said in a post on X.

एक ही दिन में दुनिया की तीन धुरंधर पहलवानों को हराने के बाद आज विनेश के साथ-साथ पूरा देश भावुक है।

जिन्होंने भी विनेश और उसके साथियों के संघर्ष को झुठलाया, उनकी नीयत और काबिलियत तक पर प्रश्नचिन्ह खड़े किए, उन सभी को जवाब मिल चुका है।

आज भारत की बहादुर बेटी के सामने सत्ता का… pic.twitter.com/MzfIrYfRog

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 6, 2024

Olympic Gold medalist Abhinav Bindra said that Vinesh Phogat qualified for the final match even after a torn ligament and a lower weight category and said that nothing can stand in the way of her. The former India shooter added that her ‘resilience and strength’ will inspire everyone in the nation.

“A torn ligament. A lower weight category. An unbeaten world champion. Nothing stands in her way. Can’t wait to cheer @Phogat_Vinesh as she goes for gold. Your resilience and strength inspire us all. What an inspiring day, here’s hoping for one more,” Abhinav Bindra wrote on X.

A torn ligament. A lower weight category. An unbeaten world champion. Nothing stands in her way. Can’t wait to cheer @Phogat_Vinesh as she goes for gold. Your resilience and strength inspire us all. What an inspiring day, here’s hoping for one more! #Paris2024#Wrestling… pic.twitter.com/3AZ56wKEEZ

— Abhinav A. Bindra OLY (@Abhinav_Bindra) August 6, 2024

Vinesh’s sister Geeta Phogat also congratulated the 29-year-old wrestler and said that their father’s dream came true.

“Vinesh Vinesh Vinesh. Pride of the country. Made history by reaching the finals. True Champion. Olympic Silver Medal confirmed, she will play for Gold Medal tomorrow Today. my father’s dream also came true, very emotional moment,” Geeta Phogat wrote on X.

Vinesh Vinesh Vinesh
देश की शान
फाइनल में पहुँच कर रचा इतिहास

True Champion
Olympic Silver Medal पक्का किया कल Gold Medal के लिए खेलेगी
आज मेरे पिता का भी सपना पूरा हुआ बहुत ही भावुक करने वाले पल @Phogat_Vineshpic.twitter.com/Aty52c8HHv

— geeta phogat (@geeta_phogat) August 6, 2024

Earlier in the day, Vinesh starred in the quarter-finals against Tokyo 2020 champion Yui Susaki of Japan.

Susaki was leading 1-0 at the end of the first period, but Vinesh made a brilliant turnaround in the second period, outdoing her Japanese opponent by miles to secure a 3-2 win to make way to the quarter-finals. She handed the Japanese wrestler her first defeat in 82 international matches.

In the quarter-finals against Ukraine’s Oksana Livach, Vinesh took a lead of 2-0 in the first period. However, Oksana managed to deliver a fight in the second period. But Vinesh, the World Championships medalist held off the challenge from Ukrainian and secured a semi-final berth.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Maharashtra leader Uddhav Thackeray is in Delhi on a three-day visit, the highlight of which will be a strategy session with alliance partner Congress ahead of the assembly elections in the state. The meeting with Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and other leaders including Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, is due tomorrow. A few other INDIA bloc parties, including the Trinamool Congress, are also expected to meet later – their first since the Lok Sabha election.

Ahead of the meeting with Sena, Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and Sonia Gandhi will have an internal meet tomorrow. 

Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut, at whose house Mr Thackeray and his son, former Maharashtra minister Aaditya Thackeray, are staying, said, “Uddhav Thackeray, Sharad Pawar, Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi are in Delhi so the discussion will be held in Delhi. We want to bring a government in the state”.

The assembly election for Maharashtra’s 288 seats is due in October, in which the Uddhav Thackeray faction of Shiv Sena is hoping for a major comeback, powered by the results of the Lok Sabha election. 

In 2019, the BJP – allied with the undivided Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray – won 23 of 25 Lok Sabha seats it contested in Maharashtra. The Shiv Sena contested the other 23 and won 18. 

This time, the BJP won just nine seats. Its allies — the splinter units of the Sena led by Eknath Shinde and NCP led by Ajit Pawar — won eight of the 19 seats they contested.

The results were seen as the voters’ take on the massive political tumult that had overtaken the state since the 2019 state elections. Over the last two years, the matter has escalated, leading to back-t9o-back splits in the Shiv Sena and the NCP with the rebel factions in both groups joining hands with the BJP.  

Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole has already expressed confidence that a change in the government is inevitable in the state. 

To that end, tomorrow’s strategy session is expected to draw up a roadmap. The seat-sharing talks for the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi — comprising the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and Sharad Pawar’s faction of the Nationalist Congress Party — will be held in Mumbai, he has said. 

New Delhi:

Invoking the Mahabharat in the Lok Sabha is in vogue, Speaker Om Birla said on Friday while asking an MP not to narrate stories but ask to-the-point questions.

While addressing a question to the Union Ayush minister, BJP member from Odisha’s Bargarh Pradip Purohit referred to an ayurvedic college and traced back the history of the herbs found in the area to ancient times. “Do not tell stories, ask the question (“aap Mahabharat mat sunao, aap prashna poocho“),” Mr Birla told the member during the Question Hour.

The speaker then said invoking the Mahabharat is in vogue these days. “Aaj kal, Mahabharat sunane ka kissa zyada chala hai yahan par,” Birla said.

Using the ‘chakravyuh’ metaphor, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi had earlier this week claimed that an atmosphere of fear prevails all around with a group of six trapping the entire country in a ‘chakravyuh’.

In a speech that invoked the Mahabharat, the former Congress chief alleged that the sole aim of the Union Budget was to strengthen the framework of big businesses, political monopoly that destroys the democratic structure, and the deep state or the agencies.

BJP’s Anurag Thakur had hit back at Mr Gandhi, saying the Congress had laid several ‘chakravyuh’ for the country – the first being Partition of the nation, the second gift to Chinese, the third being imposition of Emergency, fourth being the Bofors scam and anti-Sikh riots, the fifth being spinning a narrative against the eternal religion (sanatan) and the sixth being hurting the politics of the country, its culture and traditions.

Mr Thakur had said Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the country out of the ‘chakravyuh’ of the Congress.

Mr Gandhi’s reference was to the Mahabharat legend according to which Abhimanyu was killed in a ‘chakravyuh’.

‘Chakravyuh’ refers to a multi-layered military formation aimed at trapping a warrior by opponents placed strategically in an alignment resembling a lotus-shaped labyrinth. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Sultanpur (UP):

Ram Chet, a cobbler in Uttar Pradesh’s Sultanpur, is no longer just another man stitching torn sandals and polishing leather shoes on the roadside. He is now the man in demand, people are coming to his makeshift shop to click selfies, officials are asking him if all is well and passers-by are stopping their cars to greet him. All thanks to a visit by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

In Sultanpur to attend a court hearing in a defamation case, the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha stopped by Ram Chet’s shop. During this brief halt, Mr Gandhi asked the cobbler about his trade and also tried his hand at mending shoes. Visuals of him trying to stitch a sandal had gone viral. A day later, Mr Ram Chet got a sewing machine from the Congress leader. This machine makes it easier to stitch shoes and will help Mr Ram Chet in his work.

The cobbler said his life has changed after the Congress leader’s visit. “People are stopping their bikes, cars and calling out to me. He has given me a lot of respect,” Mr Ram Chet said.

The cobbler is getting huge offers for the footwear Mr Gandhi stitched that day, with one caller offering as much as Rs 10 lakh. “The offers are becoming bigger. They started with Rs 5 lakh and have now gone up to Rs 10 lakh. One caller offered me bags full of cash, but I refused. I won’t sell them,” he said. While responding to a reporter’s questions, the cobbler jokes, “Rahul Gandhi is my partner. We run the shop in partnership.”

Mr Ram Chet said he won’t return the footwear to the person it belongs to either. “I will pay him the price of the sandals.” 

Recounting his conversation with the Congress leader, Mr Ram Chet said Mr Gandhi asked him about his work. “He asked me how shoes are pasted, I showed him and he did it.”

Mr Ram Chet lives in a makeshift hut that has no power supply. Officials have started making the rounds of his shanty since his photograph with Mr Gandhi circulated on social media. “People from the administration are now coming and asking me about my problems. They never came before.”

The cobbler’s run-down accommodation doesn’t have power supply. Asked how he will use the sewing machine in the dark, he told news agency PTI, “My son’s home has electricity supply. I will keep the machine at his place and do the sewing work.”

Raghuram, the cobbler’s son, told ANI that they were delighted to meet the Congress leader. “He treated us with respect and dignity. He asked me why I am not in this profession anymore. I told him that when I worked as a cobbler, people did not respect me. So I left the profession. I work as a labourer now,” he said.