Kumari Selja Announces Justice Yatra for Ankita Bhandari; Flags Haryana Paddy Procurement Issues

Party announces statewide campaign against alleged corruption, unemployment, paper leaks and migration; Assembly gherao planned for October 27–28

Congress national general secretary, Uttarakhand in-charge, Sirsa MP and Congress Working Committee member Kumari Selja has announced a series of political programmes in Uttarakhand, including a statewide Justice Yatra from October 22 to 25. The campaign will demand justice in the Ankita Bhandari murder case and raise concerns over women’s safety, alleged corruption, unemployment, recruitment paper leaks and migration from hill areas.

Speaking to the media in Dehradun, Selja accused the BJP government in Uttarakhand of avoiding accountability on issues affecting ordinary citizens. She said the Congress would take these concerns to the public through its proposed campaign and continue pressing the government for answers. The party’s programme will include a justice march, a protest outside the state Assembly and demonstrations at state and district headquarters.

Congress Seeks Impartial Investigation into Ankita Bhandari Case

Referring to the Ankita Bhandari murder case, Selja called for an impartial investigation into allegations that have emerged in connection with the matter, including claims associated with viral audio recordings. She said the facts surrounding the allegations and the people whose names have surfaced should be examined fairly and transparently, and that the victim’s family must receive justice.

Selja also questioned the appointment of Dushyant Gautam as Governor of Sikkim, expressing concern that the development could affect the investigation. Her remarks reflect the Congress leader’s concern and demand for scrutiny; the allegations themselves must be established through an impartial inquiry. She said the party would continue raising the issue and would not abandon its demand for justice for Ankita Bhandari.

The proposed Justice Yatra from October 22 to 25 is intended to bring the case and other public concerns into focus across Uttarakhand. The Congress says it will use the campaign to demand accountability and draw attention to matters it believes require urgent government action.

Questions over Voter Roll Revision and Democratic Rights

Selja also raised questions about the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. She said protecting the voting rights of every eligible citizen was essential to democracy and stressed that the electoral process should safeguard the participation of all qualified voters.

She maintained that peaceful demonstrations were a democratic right available to political parties. The Congress, she indicated, would continue to use democratic means to raise its concerns and mobilise public opinion on issues it considers important.

Congress Calls for Probe into Alleged Irregularities

The Congress leader also referred to allegations concerning Cabinet Minister Rekha Arya and called for impartial investigations into claims linked to the mid-day meal programme, the National Games and the ration distribution system. Selja further pointed to alleged irregularities involving land transactions, illegal mining and offerings at Badrinath, calling for transparent scrutiny of these matters.

The allegations raised by Selja are claims that require verification by the appropriate authorities. Her demand is that issues involving public administration and public resources be examined fairly and transparently. The party says accountability is necessary to maintain public confidence in institutions and government processes.

Unemployment, Paper Leaks and Migration Remain Concerns

Selja identified unemployment, paper leaks and migration from mountainous areas as serious challenges facing Uttarakhand. She said young people needed better employment opportunities and greater confidence in recruitment systems. Allegations of paper leaks, she suggested, require a credible response so that candidates can trust the fairness of examinations and selection procedures.

Migration from hill regions also requires sustained attention, according to Selja. She said the government should focus on the future of young people and on creating opportunities that help communities remain economically viable. The Congress intends to raise these concerns alongside the Ankita Bhandari case as part of its wider campaign against what it describes as government failures.

Four Phases of Protest Announced

Selja outlined the party’s proposed schedule. The Justice Yatra will take place from October 22 to 25. The Congress will then gherao the Uttarakhand Assembly on October 27 and 28 to press its demands. A large convention is scheduled for November 1 at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi, followed by demonstrations at state and district headquarters on November 4 against alleged land scams.

The announced programme is designed to sustain pressure through statewide outreach, a legislative protest and demonstrations at different administrative levels. Selja said the Congress would continue its democratic struggle on issues involving public rights, women’s safety and alleged corruption. The party’s campaign places the Ankita Bhandari case at the centre of its demand for justice while also seeking answers on employment, recruitment controversies and the problems faced by people across Uttarakhand.

Weak internet connectivity, token glitches and delays are adding to farmers’ difficulties, says Sirsa MP

Congress MP Kumari Selja has expressed concern over technical problems affecting paddy procurement at grain markets in Haryana, urging the state government to resolve the difficulties immediately and ensure that farmers do not face unnecessary delays.

Selja said weak internet connectivity, problems in issuing procurement tokens and delays in the purchasing process were causing hardship to farmers arriving at mandis with their produce. She said the government should address these operational difficulties across the state and ensure that procurement arrangements function smoothly.

Citing figures for Sirsa, Selja said paddy arrivals had reached 71,696 metric tonnes, while procurement stood at 29,341 metric tonnes. She described the gap between arrivals and purchases as a matter of concern, particularly for farmers waiting at mandis for their crops to be procured.

She said farmers should not have to remain at mandis because of technical failures or administrative delays. The government, she added, should ensure a reliable token system and remove obstacles disrupting the procurement process.

Selja called for immediate corrective measures across Haryana and demanded that the government ensure timely procurement of every grain of paddy brought by farmers to the mandis. She said efficient arrangements were essential to prevent avoidable inconvenience during the harvesting and selling season. The government should resolve connectivity issues, improve token issuance and ensure farmers can sell their produce without unnecessary waiting.