Congress leader Selja questions financial constraints cited by government, calls for special audit of urban local body works
CHANDIGARH | PEN OF DEMOCRACY NEWS DESK
Sirsa MP, former Union minister, Congress general secretary and CWC member Kumari Selja has urged the Haryana government to resolve the legitimate demands of sanitation workers through dialogue instead of resorting to dismissals, suspensions and arrests. She said issuing show-cause notices to employees could not provide a permanent solution to the ongoing dispute.
Selja said the government had been citing the financial burden involved in accepting the demands of sanitation workers, but complaints of alleged misuse of public money in the name of development works in municipal corporations, municipal councils and municipalities continued to emerge. She argued that curbing corruption and unnecessary expenditure could create resources for providing sanitation workers with fair wages, risk allowance and social security.
Referring to the Faridabad Municipal Corporation, Selja said action had been taken against officials and employees in connection with an alleged scam involving around ₹200 crore. She said the investigation had brought forward serious allegations, including payments allegedly being made for work that had not been carried out and the division of development projects into smaller portions to avoid the e-tendering process.
Selja said such allegations required serious examination because public funds allocated for civic infrastructure and essential services must be used transparently and efficiently. According to her, the government could not cite financial constraints as a reason for withholding legitimate benefits from sanitation workers while allegations of irregularities in the spending of public money continued to surface.
She also raised concerns regarding alleged irregularities in development works in Sirsa Municipal Council. Selja said councillors had levelled serious allegations regarding the construction of streets and payments made for such works. Among the allegations, she said, were claims that some streets were rebuilt merely two or three years after their earlier construction and that payments were allegedly released even before certain works had been completed.
Selja called for an impartial technical and financial investigation by the district administration into the allegations concerning Sirsa Municipal Council. She said any examination should establish whether public funds had been utilised in accordance with sanctioned works, whether construction standards were followed and whether payments were released only after completion and verification of the work.
The Congress leader further demanded a special audit of all street, road, sewerage and sanitation-related works undertaken across Haryana’s urban local bodies during the past five years. She said the audit should cover municipal corporations, municipal councils and municipalities so that any financial or procedural irregularities could be identified systematically.
She called for strict action against officials, contractors or other persons found responsible for irregularities following the audit. She also demanded recovery of government funds wherever financial wrongdoing or improper payments were established.
Selja said the money recovered from such irregularities should be utilised for improving the working conditions and welfare of sanitation workers. According to her, public expenditure should prioritise essential civic services and the people who perform critical work for maintaining clean and healthy urban environments.
The Congress leader’s statement comes amid the continuing dispute between sanitation workers and the Haryana government over issues including employment security, wages and other service-related demands. She maintained that negotiations and meaningful dialogue should remain the preferred route for resolving the confrontation.
She said sanitation workers perform essential duties for cities and towns and deserve fair treatment, adequate compensation and social security. Instead of escalating the confrontation through administrative action, the government should sit with representatives of the employees and work towards an acceptable and sustainable settlement, she said.
Selja argued that the credibility of the government’s approach to public expenditure would also be strengthened if allegations concerning municipal spending were subjected to transparent scrutiny. A comprehensive audit, she said, could help identify areas where expenditure could be reduced or recovered and ensure that available resources are directed towards genuine public needs.
She reiterated that show-cause notices, suspensions or arrests could not substitute for a negotiated resolution of the sanitation workers’ concerns. The government, she said, should address the issues through dialogue while simultaneously ensuring accountability in the use of public funds.
Selja to address Congress convention in Uncha Chandana on September 9
Sirsa MP, former Union minister, Congress general secretary and CWC member Kumari Selja will participate in a Congress convention organised by the Kheri Lakha Singh block at Ratan Farm, Radaur Road, Uncha Chandana, on the morning of September 9, 2026.
Selja will address party workers at the convention and convey the messages of Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. She is also expected to interact with workers on the party’s policies, organisational strengthening and issues concerning public interest.
Senior Congress leaders, office-bearers and party workers are expected to participate in the convention. The programme is intended to provide a platform for interaction with workers and discussions on organisational and public issues.
POD/DESK
