Kids canvass for Gajera in Surat

Kids were made to campaign for Congress candidate Dhiru Gajera on Tuesday, with more than 50 kids being involved in it. The child campaigners chanted slogans for Gajera, distributed pamphlets and posters, and entertained many in the by-lanes of the city.

Gajera took out a rally in the old city area on Tuesday. The rally began from Putli in Sagrampura and passed through most parts in the old city. Among the supporters, there were more than 50 kids.

The kids were mostly from poor and labour class families. They wore party scarf in their necks. They distributed pamphlets and posters during the campaign. They also walked on the streets in the scorching heat and kept themselves hanging from vehicles to reach out to maximum number of people.

Later, each of them was paid less than Rs100 by party workers. Ehsaan Shiekh, 10, said that he was promised Rs80 and food by the leaders and was asked to work for the candidate.

"Party workers asked people in my area (Bhatena) to join the campaign for money and food. They also wanted kids. My parents asked me to join the rally. I don't know to whom the money will be paid, but workers have offered me and other kids' food and cold drinks," Shiekh told innocently.

Meanwhile, BJP leaders condemned the incident. They said children should not be used for election work. "Children are unaware about what they are doing and they do the work only because they are asked to do. They can't be made to work for propaganda and that too for the whole day for a nominal amount. No political party should promote such things. This is unacceptable in society," Kishor Vankawala, a BJP leader, said.

DNA tried to contact Gajera for his comment, but he did not respond. "Gajera Sir is busy addressing a rally and can't come on the line. Only he can comment upon this," one of his close associates said.