Congress General Secretary Selja Says Increasing Murders, Extortion and Threats Demand Immediate Action, While Vacant Posts and Delayed Recruitment Are Deepening Youth Frustration
CHANDIGARH | PEN OF DEMOCRACY NEWS DESK
Congress national general secretary, former Union minister and Sirsa MP Kumari Selja has expressed serious concern over what she described as the deteriorating law and order situation and rising unemployment in Haryana, saying that frequent reports of murder, robbery, extortion, ransom and other criminal incidents have created an atmosphere of insecurity among citizens. She said the state government should move beyond political statements and take immediate and effective measures to strengthen law enforcement and restore public confidence in the security system.
Kumari Selja said the situation in Haryana requires urgent attention as incidents involving violence, threats and financial demands are increasingly becoming a matter of concern for ordinary citizens as well as the business community. According to her, people should be able to live and conduct their businesses without fear, and ensuring the safety of life and property must remain the foremost responsibility of any elected government.
She said concerns regarding law and order are not limited to Haryana and that questions have also been raised in several BJP-ruled states, including Uttar Pradesh. She added that serious incidents reported from Delhi should also be examined with regard to governmental accountability. In a democratic system, she said, citizens have the right to expect effective protection from the state, and governments cannot step away from that responsibility.
The Congress leader particularly highlighted concerns over what she described as a possible trend of “silent extortion”, where people allegedly receive threats or demands for ransom but hesitate to approach the police because of fear. She said such a situation should be treated as a serious warning for both the police administration and the intelligence system.
“If a person is afraid even to register a complaint after receiving threats or ransom demands, it indicates that the confidence of citizens in the security system needs to be strengthened,” she said. She called for the intelligence network to be made more effective and for criminal networks involved in organised extortion and threats to be identified and dealt with decisively.
Kumari Selja said that the government must ensure that citizens who approach the police with complaints are heard without fear or hesitation. She said traders and other vulnerable sections should receive adequate protection and that the administration should develop a system through which information about criminal networks can reach the authorities before incidents escalate.
She also linked the issue of public safety with the broader challenge of employment and economic insecurity among young people. She said the policies of the BJP government in Haryana were placing a significant burden on the state’s youth, particularly those waiting for regular government recruitment.
According to her, a large number of posts remain vacant in government departments, yet recruitment processes have not moved at the pace expected by aspiring candidates. Young people, she said, often spend years preparing for examinations and waiting for recruitment procedures to be completed.
She argued that promoting temporary or contractual arrangements in place of stable and dignified employment cannot adequately address the aspirations of young people. Government employment may not be the only solution to unemployment, she said, but where vacancies exist, recruitment should be conducted through a transparent, fair and time-bound process.
Kumari Selja said the Congress approach has consistently emphasised providing young people with adequate opportunities for education, skills and employment. Recruitment, she said, should be transparent, timely and free from discrimination. No young person should face disadvantage because of their region, social background or any other factor.
She said prolonged unemployment does not affect only individuals but also places an economic burden on their families. Extended periods of uncertainty can contribute to frustration and disappointment among young people and may increase broader social dissatisfaction.
At the same time, she cautioned against drawing a direct conclusion that unemployment automatically leads to crime. She said not every unemployed young person turns towards criminal activity. However, lack of employment opportunities, economic insecurity and prolonged frustration can create difficult social conditions. Therefore, she said, improving law and order and creating meaningful opportunities for education, skill development and employment should be viewed as complementary responsibilities.
Kumari Selja questioned what the government was doing at a time when citizens were increasingly concerned about their security, traders were allegedly facing threats and extortion demands, and young people were struggling to find employment.
She asked when accountability would be fixed within the administration and when citizens would see concrete action rather than assurances. She said the government must strengthen the police and intelligence machinery and take effective action against organised criminal groups involved in extortion, ransom demands and threats.
She also called for greater protection for complainants and members of the business community who come forward with information about criminal activity. According to her, citizens will cooperate more effectively with law enforcement only when they have confidence that their complaints will be handled seriously and that they will not be left vulnerable after approaching the authorities.
On unemployment, she demanded a concrete policy for filling vacant government posts through regular and transparent recruitment. She said recruitment calendars should be followed within clearly defined timelines so that young candidates do not spend years waiting for examinations, results, appointments or other stages of the selection process.
She said employment policy should also focus on education and skill development so that young people can access opportunities across different sectors. A combination of quality education, market-oriented skills, entrepreneurship opportunities and stable employment, she said, can help strengthen the economic security of families and reduce frustration among young people.
Kumari Selja said the government should recognise that public safety and employment are closely connected to the quality of life of citizens. A secure environment is essential for businesses to function, while a healthy employment ecosystem is essential for young people to build independent and productive lives.
She said the government should therefore adopt a comprehensive approach rather than treating crime and unemployment as isolated political issues. Strengthening policing, improving intelligence gathering, acting against organised crime and ensuring confidence among complainants must go hand in hand with transparent recruitment and better employment opportunities.
The Congress leader said her party would continue to raise issues concerning public safety, employment and social justice. She urged the government to focus on the problems being faced by ordinary citizens instead of limiting its response to political statements.
Kumari Selja said Haryana needs visible action on the ground rather than repeated announcements. According to her, citizens need a government that can provide security, young people need opportunities to build their future, and businesses need an environment free from fear and extortion.
She concluded that the state government should take immediate steps to strengthen law and order, improve intelligence coordination, act against criminal and extortion networks, protect citizens who report threats and accelerate transparent recruitment against vacant posts. She said Haryana’s future depends on creating both a secure environment and meaningful opportunities for its youth.
