Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) has launched an attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, criticizing his recent visit to Dharavi, one of Asia’s largest slums. Sena leaders claimed that Gandhi's visit was "more of a social media stunt" rather than a sincere political outreach.
A senior Shiv Sena leader remarked, "He came as a YouTuber, not as a Congress leader. Politics is not about creating social media content but about real action." They accused him of treating his visit like a media event, rather than addressing the core issues of poverty, unemployment, and housing that plague Dharavi residents.
Rahul Gandhi, who has been actively promoting his Bharat Jodo Yatra and grassroots engagement initiatives, spent time in Dharavi interacting with locals, visiting small businesses, and speaking to daily wage workers. His team also recorded video clips from the visit, which were later shared on social media platforms.
Shiv Sena leaders, however, dismissed this as mere optics, questioning what tangible benefits his visit would bring to the struggling families of Dharavi. "Will Congress provide housing, sanitation, and jobs to the people here? Or is this just another political drama?" a Shiv Sena spokesperson asked.
On the other hand, Congress has strongly defended Gandhi, arguing that he was engaging with marginalized communities to understand their challenges firsthand. Congress leaders pointed out that Dharavi’s residents have long struggled with poor living conditions, and Gandhi’s visit was an effort to highlight their plight. "Unlike BJP leaders who make empty promises, Rahul Gandhi actually interacts with the people," a Congress spokesperson countered.
Dharavi has been a politically sensitive area in Mumbai, with various governments promising redevelopment projects that often fail to materialize. The Maharashtra government’s Dharavi Redevelopment Project, which aims to transform the slum into a modern township, has faced multiple delays. Critics argue that despite political visits and assurances, real progress remains slow.
As the political war of words continues, Rahul Gandhi’s visit has sparked fresh debate over whether political leaders truly work for the underprivileged or merely use them for electoral gains. With elections approaching, both Congress and Shiv Sena appear to be positioning themselves strategically to win the trust of Mumbai’s voters.
