"Modi govt is doing injustice": Congress promises to end manual scavenging
Apr 07, 2024
New Delhi [India], April 7 : Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh lashed out at the centre and raised questions over the death of a sanitation worker due to a gas leak in Varanasi and promised to end manual scavenging.
"On April 5, 2024, a sanitation worker in the Prime Minister's own Lok Sabha constituency died due to a gas leak when he entered a sewer without equipment. This is not a new case in Varanasi; during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, we were told that in the last ten years, more than 25 deaths have occurred in Banaras due to entering sewers," he lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Further accusing the Modi government of doing injustice to sanitation workers, he said that, on the other hand, Congress has made this promise in its manifesto that they will end the evil practice of manual scavenging.
"All manual scavengers will be skilled for some other work and will be provided jobs. A dignified and safe life will be ensured for them," he added.
He further ensured that the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 will be strictly enforced and anyone employing manual scavengers will be punished.
He announced that a compensation of Rs 30 lakh will be given to the families of sanitation workers who lose their lives while performing manual scavenging work.
Earlier in the day, Jairam Ramesh also posed questions for PM Modi, as the latter is all set to address a public rally in Bihar as part of his election campaign at 11 am on Sunday.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X, "Today, the Prime Minister heads to Nawada in Bihar--the state where the BJP orchestrated its latest government collapse. While they have excelled at forcing their way into power, the BJP's governance has left much to be desired."
He alleged that the ruling BJP party does not hesitate to topple governments or use 'ill-gotten electoral bonds chanda' to buy and sell MLAs in desperate bids to cling to power.
