Last weekend was a high booster for the Surat diamond industry, when AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi, met over 900 jobless diamond workers at Sardar Smruti Bhavan in the diamond hub of Varachha. The Surat diamond industry, since the past few months, has adorned a dull picture, as more than 1 Lac workers are jobless and huge numbers of the diamond units have closed down, owing to the economic slowdown. Mr. Gandhi, who was on a political campaigning trip in Surat, clearly emphasised better support for Surat’s diamond community, over what the present state government has extended so far.

He noted that the sob state of affairs of the industry as of today is the result of the present cold shouldered state government, led by Narendra Modi. Mr. Gandhi stressed that the Congress was keen on supporting the common man, who is the reason the industry has achieved such heights in the world. He recounted his trip to the Argyle mines in Australia, where he was told that the mines are active owing to the work of the Surat diamond workers.

He assured that he would take the issue of the jobless diamond workers up with the Centre.