Congress leader Selja says raising voice against alleged discrimination is a democratic responsibility and demands impartial action based on law and constitutional values
CHANDIGARH / PEN OF DEMOCRACY NEWS DESK
Sirsa MP, former Union minister, Uttarakhand Congress in-charge and Congress national general secretary Kumari Selja has termed the registration of an FIR against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over his demand for action against those allegedly involved in the ‘purification’ of a stage following Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s public meeting in Haldwani as deeply unfortunate. She said the development raises serious questions about the manner in which allegations of discrimination and social injustice are being addressed.
Selja said that in a democracy, raising one’s voice against injustice, discrimination and violation of dignity is an important responsibility of the Opposition. She said attempts to suppress such voices through criminal cases were neither appropriate nor consistent with democratic principles.
According to Selja, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had himself raised the Haldwani incident in Parliament and described the alleged act as a serious issue concerning his dignity and social equality. She said Rahul Gandhi subsequently demanded that action be taken in accordance with law.
Selja questioned why those demanding an impartial investigation should face legal action when the underlying allegation itself concerns the dignity of an individual and the principle of equality. She said that whenever an incident allegedly hurts the dignity of a person or community, the government’s responsibility is to ensure an impartial investigation and take appropriate legal action on the basis of established facts.
“The question is not who has raised the issue, but whether the allegations deserve an impartial investigation under the law,” Selja said, stressing that the same legal standards should apply to everyone.
The Congress leader said her party firmly believes that insulting or discriminating against a person on the basis of caste, or displaying an attitude rooted in untouchability, cannot be accepted in a modern constitutional democracy. She said the Constitution guarantees every citizen equality, dignity and the right to live with respect.
Referring to the legacy of Dr B.R. Ambedkar, Selja said the constitutional framework of India was built on the principles of equality, justice and dignity. Protecting these values, she said, is a collective responsibility of governments at both the central and state levels as well as of political parties and public institutions.
Selja alleged that the conduct of the BJP government in Uttarakhand in the entire episode did not appear impartial. She said demands for action over the alleged ‘purification’ incident had been raised for some time, while an FIR had now been registered against Rahul Gandhi after he sought action in the matter.
She said this sequence of events raised questions about the priorities of the state government. If allegations of caste-based discrimination are serious enough to be discussed publicly and in Parliament, she said, the appropriate course should be an objective investigation rather than action against those who demand accountability.
Selja emphasised that the law must be applied equally to all citizens and political leaders. She said investigations into sensitive matters involving social discrimination should not be influenced by political considerations or partisan interests.
She also called upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi to clarify his position on the issue. According to Selja, the country needs to know how the government views incidents involving social equality, caste discrimination and the dignity of Dalit citizens.
She said merely speaking about social harmony was not enough. Whenever allegations of discrimination, humiliation or violation of dignity emerge, governments must demonstrate their commitment to constitutional values through impartial investigations and lawful action.
Selja said Rahul Gandhi had consistently raised issues concerning the Constitution, social justice, equality and the rights of disadvantaged sections of society. She maintained that legal cases or political pressure would not force the Congress to withdraw from these issues.
She said the Congress had a long history of defending democratic institutions and constitutional rights and would continue to raise matters concerning social justice through democratic and legal means.
The Congress leader stressed that the party did not seek confrontation over the matter. Instead, she said, the issue should be addressed through constitutional, legal and democratic mechanisms. The objective should be to establish facts, determine responsibility and ensure that the law is applied fairly.
Selja said the dignity of Dalits, disadvantaged communities and vulnerable sections of society must remain a central concern in public policy and governance. She said no citizen should feel humiliated or discriminated against because of caste.
She added that democratic institutions have a responsibility to ensure that citizens can raise legitimate concerns without fear. According to her, the registration of cases against political leaders who raise questions of social justice should not become a substitute for investigating the original allegations.
Selja said the Haldwani controversy had wider implications because it touched upon the constitutional principle of equality. She urged the authorities to deal with the matter with sensitivity and ensure that the investigation, if undertaken, remains independent and fact-based.
She also said that allegations involving caste discrimination require a careful examination of evidence and should not be used as a tool for political retaliation. At the same time, she maintained that complaints relating to dignity and discrimination cannot simply be ignored.
The Congress leader said the Constitution provides safeguards against discrimination and establishes equality as a fundamental principle of Indian democracy. Political parties, governments and citizens, she said, must work together to ensure that these principles are reflected in social conduct as well as governance.
She reiterated that the Congress would continue to raise the concerns of Dalits and other disadvantaged sections through constitutional channels. She said the party would not step back from issues of equality, dignity and social justice because of political pressure or legal cases.
Selja also appealed for restraint and responsible political discourse. She said the matter should be allowed to proceed according to law and that the authorities should focus on determining the facts rather than escalating political tensions.
She said India cannot claim to be a modern and inclusive democracy if citizens continue to face humiliation or discrimination because of their caste. Ensuring dignity and equality, she added, is not merely a political slogan but a constitutional obligation.
Selja maintained that the appropriate response to allegations of discrimination is investigation, accountability and lawful action. She said the government must demonstrate that the law operates equally regardless of the identity, political affiliation or social position of the persons involved.
She concluded by reiterating that Congress would continue to defend constitutional values and raise issues concerning social justice through democratic means. The party, she said, would continue to demand equality, dignity and protection of rights for Dalits, disadvantaged communities and every citizen.
Selja Writes to CM Over Drinking Water Crisis in Sectors 19 and 20
Kumari Selja has written to Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini seeking immediate intervention over what she described as a serious drinking water crisis in Sectors 19 and 20. She said residents of the two sectors had been facing disruption in regular water supply and urged the state government to ensure an immediate solution.
Selja said that despite the passage of nearly 12 days, adequate water had not been stored in the tanks of the waterworks, resulting in disruption of regular drinking water supply. She said residents were being forced to deal with difficulties because sufficient water was not available through the existing system.
The Congress leader also informed the chief minister that sensors installed at the waterworks for monitoring water quality and chlorination had reportedly remained non-functional for a considerable period. She said the failure of these monitoring systems had created additional concern among residents regarding the quality and safety of the drinking water being supplied to them.
Selja said access to clean and adequate drinking water is a basic necessity and ensuring its regular availability is the responsibility of the concerned department. She urged the government to treat the issue as a priority rather than allowing residents to continue facing uncertainty over water supply.
She demanded that the faulty sensors at the waterworks be repaired immediately and the water quality monitoring system restored. She also called for adequate water storage in the tanks to ensure that residents of Sectors 19 and 20 receive sufficient drinking water.
Selja further requested that residents be provided clean and adequate drinking water twice a day, in the morning and evening, until the situation is fully normalised. She also urged the chief minister to issue directions to senior officials of the concerned department for priority resolution of the problem.
She said timely intervention by the administration could prevent the water shortage from becoming more serious and provide relief to residents who depend on the public water supply system.
