Congress leader demands PM Modi apologise to Kharge and the country; seeks impartial probe, accountability over alleged incident
CHANDIGARH / PEN OF DEMOCRACY NEWS DESK
Congress general secretary, former Union minister and Sirsa MP Kumari Selja launched a sharp attack over the alleged ‘purification’ of a stage in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, following a public meeting addressed by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, terming the reported incident an affront to the Constitution, social equality and the democratic values of the country.
Participating in a Congress protest at Ambedkar Chowk in Sirsa, Selja said that if the incident took place in the manner being reported, it was not merely a political controversy but a matter that raised serious questions about social equality and constitutional morality. She demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi apologise to Kharge as well as the people of the country.
A large number of Congress workers participated in the protest and raised slogans against the alleged incident. Selja said the controversy had emerged at a time when the country was preparing to celebrate Independence Day and political parties and citizens were organising Tiranga programmes to underline the values of national unity.
She said it was deeply unfortunate that while the country was talking about unity, patriotism and the sacrifices made for India’s freedom, an incident involving an alleged attempt to ‘purify’ a public stage after Kharge’s address had come to light.
‘Constitution gives every citizen equal dignity’:
Selja said the Constitution, under the leadership and vision associated with Dr B.R. Ambedkar, established equality and dignity as fundamental principles of Indian democracy. According to her, any conduct that seeks to distinguish between people on the basis of social identity is inconsistent with these constitutional values.
She said political differences were an essential part of democracy and political parties were free to oppose each other’s policies and programmes. However, she added, political disagreement could not be allowed to become a basis for social discrimination.
“The issue is not simply about one individual or one political party. It concerns the kind of society we want to build,” Selja said, arguing that notions of ‘pure’ and ‘impure’ had no place in a democratic India governed by a Constitution that guarantees equality.
She said Kharge was among the country’s senior political leaders and had spent decades in public life raising issues concerning democracy, social justice and disadvantaged sections of society. His long political career, she said, deserved respect irrespective of political differences.
BJP, RSS ideology under question, says Selja:
The Congress leader also questioned the ideological position of the BJP and RSS in the wake of the alleged incident. She said that any attempt to create divisions among citizens on the basis of caste or religion could weaken social harmony and national unity.
Selja said BJP national president J.P. Nadda had reportedly spoken about an inquiry into the matter, but stressed that an announcement of an investigation alone would not settle the issue.
“If the incident took place, the facts should be established and responsibility should be fixed,” she said.
She demanded that the authorities conduct a fair and impartial inquiry and take action under the law if any violation or discriminatory conduct was established.
Selja also said political organisations should work towards bringing different sections of society together. According to her, public life should focus on issues such as unemployment, inflation, education, healthcare and development rather than creating social divisions.
‘Country cannot move forward with caste-based discrimination’:
The Congress leader said India had made significant progress since Independence, but incidents that allegedly revive social distinctions based on caste or notions of purity and impurity should concern every democratic-minded citizen.
She said the Constitution was not merely a legal document but the foundation of India’s democratic system. Equality before law, dignity and social justice, she added, should guide public institutions and political conduct.
Selja appealed to people across communities to remain united and reject any form of discrimination. She said the strength of India lay in its diversity and social harmony.
The protest at Ambedkar Chowk was attended by Congress leaders and workers, including MLA Gokul Setia, Kalanwali MLA Sheeshpal Keharwala, Dr K.V. Singh, Veerbhan Mehta, Krishna Phogat, Rajkumar Sharma, Naveen Kedia, Rajesh Chadhiwal, Laduram Poonia, Jagga Singh Brar and Satpal Mehta, among others.
Selja distributes water tankers under MP Local Area Development Scheme
During her engagements in Sirsa, Selja also distributed water tankers under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme and said efforts were being made to ensure that the benefits of available funds reached as many people as possible.
Selja said the budget available under the MP Local Area Development Scheme was subject to a prescribed limit, but this did not mean that public representatives should ignore genuine demands.
She said her endeavour was to identify priority requirements in different areas and use the available resources for projects that directly benefited residents.
According to Selja, drinking water was among the most basic public needs and demands related to water supply should receive priority wherever possible.
She said the newly distributed tankers would help provide water facilities in areas where residents required additional support. She also stressed the importance of identifying local problems through regular interaction with residents.
Road digging in Rori market worries traders:
After the protest, Selja visited Rori market in Sirsa and interacted with members of the trade association and local shopkeepers. She inspected roads that had reportedly been dug up for laying drainage-related lines and took note of the difficulties being faced by traders.
Shopkeepers told her that the incomplete works had affected movement in the market and were also causing difficulties for businesses. They said the digging of roads for rainwater drainage works had left portions of the market in poor condition.
Trade association president Heeralaal Sharma and other representatives apprised Selja of problems relating to the market as well as other civic issues affecting Sirsa city.
Selja said development works were necessary, but their execution should be planned in a manner that minimised inconvenience to residents and traders.
She said public infrastructure projects should be completed within a reasonable timeframe and quality standards should be strictly maintained.
“Development should not become a prolonged source of inconvenience for the people,” she said, adding that agencies executing public works should remain accountable for timely completion.
Selja backs sanitation workers’ demand for regularisation:
Selja also expressed support for sanitation workers who have been seeking action on their employment-related demands.
She said the government should formulate a clear policy for eligible sanitation workers and take concrete steps towards their regularisation.
According to Selja, sanitation workers form the backbone of urban cleanliness and perform essential duties every day. Their contribution becomes particularly visible during periods of heavy rain, festivals and other situations when cities require additional sanitation efforts.
She questioned the government’s priorities, saying that significant amounts were being spent on city beautification, contracts and wall-painting projects while sanitation workers continued to raise concerns over job security and their pending demands.
Selja said repeated assurances without a final decision could further increase frustration among workers.
She demanded that the government hold discussions with sanitation employees, examine their eligibility and take a policy decision rather than continuing with assurances.
She said cleanliness could not be achieved only through contracts, beautification projects or publicity campaigns. The people actually responsible for keeping cities clean, she added, must receive dignity, security and fair treatment.
‘Democracy must be strengthened through equality and accountability’
Selja said the issues raised during her visit to Sirsa were connected by a common principle — public institutions and governments must remain accountable to citizens.
Whether it was the alleged Haldwani incident, civic infrastructure, drinking water facilities or the demands of sanitation workers, she said, public concerns should be addressed through dialogue, transparency and timely action.
She reiterated that the alleged ‘purification’ of Kharge’s stage, if established, should not be dismissed as a minor political controversy. She said the matter required a serious examination because it touched upon the larger question of equality and social dignity.
Selja said India had achieved Independence after a long struggle in which people from different communities and backgrounds made sacrifices. The country’s future, she added, depended on preserving unity and respecting the constitutional rights of every citizen.
She appealed to political parties and public representatives to avoid rhetoric that could deepen social divisions and instead focus on employment, education, healthcare, inflation, farmers, infrastructure and other issues affecting ordinary citizens.
The Congress leader maintained that democratic disagreement should remain within the framework of constitutional values and that every citizen, irrespective of caste, community or political affiliation, deserved equal respect and dignity.
POD/DESK
