Microblogging at CPC Congress: Tearful delegate jeered

A migrant worker delegate to the ongoing 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) who broke down in tears during a panel discussion has been mocked on the Chinese blog sphere for what netizens perceive to be his failure to take his job seriously.

Ju Xiaolin choked up on Saturday while reading aloud an original poem of praise directed toward President Hu Jintao.

"It has been found, it has been found, the new expectations of my heart,on the morning of Nov. 8, 2012, on the podium of the Great Hall of People, in the resolute voice of Hu Jintao..." read Ju's poem, which was inspired by a political report delivered by President Hu to the congress on Thursday.

In the two days since Ju read his poem, many microbloggers have criticized his emotional response to Hu's report, with some questioning whether he is fulfilling his duties in a responsible way.

"How can one be sensational at the solemn CPC congress? Be rational!" wrote netizen "Fairy sister" on Sina Weibo, a popular microblogging site.

Others described Ju's emotional response as "stupid" and "repulsive."

There are just 26 migrant worker delegates at the congress this year, accounting for only 1.14 percent of the total number of deputies but representing over 250 million migrant workers nationwide.

This year's congress also marks their first appearance as a group, as previous congresses featured only several individual migrant workers.

"Are the migrant worker delegates here to cry and write hymns at the CPC congress? Is this what the large group of migrant workers really wants? It seems the role of delegates from the grassroots at the congress is to applaud, cry, and praise," wrote netizen "Wang Lida."

"What we want is people who can engage in political discussions and track down and solve problems," wrote netizen "Wangcai without temper."

However, netizens largely neglected the contributions Ju made during the panel discussion, contributions that were left out in posts they commented on.

The delegate said migrant workers should contract their farm work to people with greater capabilities.

"I want to give a second suggestion on behalf of my coworkers. We want our pensions to move with us when we change our jobs, just like bank cards," he said.

In China, pension accounts are not transferrable between provinces.

Ju told Xinhua after the panel discussion that migrant workers have many expectations for the congress, adding that he will make their demands known at the meeting.

Ju's diary, which he said he writes in nearly every day, contains one clue as to his intentions regarding the meeting: an entry he wrote on the same day as the panel discussion.

"I will make a statement today. Last night, I carefully read Hu's report again, focusing on the sections regarding rural areas, agriculture and farmers. If only one sentence is allowed, I will say that I have found the expectations of my heart."