The leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Friday called for creating a system in which people’s skills get their due and everyone’s contribution is respected, as he shared a Diwali video in which he is seen interacting with paint-job workers and potters.

Posting on YouTube the over-nine-minute video which also shows him having a conversation with his nephew Raihan Rajiv Vadra, the Congress leader said: “A memorable Diwali with special people — I celebrated this Diwali working with some painter brothers and making earthen diyas with a potter family.”

“I saw their work closely, tried to learn their skills and understood their difficulties and problems. They don’t go home. We celebrate festivals happily, and to earn some money they forget their village, city, family,” Rahul said.

“They make happiness from clay. While lighting up the festivals of others, are they able to live in light themselves? Those who build houses can hardly run their own houses!” he said.

Rahul said Diwali means light that can remove the darkness of poverty and helplessness.

“We have to create a system in which people’s skills get their due and their contribution is respected, (one which) makes everyone’s Diwali a happy one. I hope this Diwali brings prosperity, progress and love in the lives of all of you,” he said.

In the video, Rahul is seen working with labourers at the 10 Janpath residence of his mother, Sonia Gandhi, and learning to paint walls along with his nephew. In the second part of the video, Rahulvisits the house of a woman who makes earthen lamps with her five daughters.

Rahul is seen trying his hand at pottery and making diyas, which he said he would give to his mother and sister.

Since his Kanyakumari-to-Kashmir Bharat Jodo Yatra and the Manipur-to-Mumbai Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, Rahul has been interacting with a cross-section of people — from mechanics and cobblers to labourers and bus drivers.

He often posts videos of his numerous interactions and highlights the plight of various sections of society.

10 Janpath

Rahul, who has spent a lot of time at the 10 Janpath bungalow in Lutyens’ Delhi, said he was “not a big fan” of the house.

The reason is that his father and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had been living at 10 Janpath when he was assassinated in Tamil Nadu’s Sriperumbudur on May 21, 1991.

“My father died (while he was living) here, so I am not a big fan of this house,” Rahul is seen telling his nephew, Raihan, in the video.

The 10 Janpath bungalow had been allocated to Rajiv in 1990. After his death, it was allocated in the name of his wife Sonia, who has been living there since.

Since Rahul became an MP, his residence had been 12 Tughlaq Lane. However, he had to vacate that house after he was disqualified from the Lok Sabha last year following his conviction in a defamation case.

Rahul then moved back into 10 Janpath where he has been living since.

PTI