Selja Questions Detention of Opposition Leaders

Sirsa MP, former Union Cabinet minister, Congress general secretary and Congress Working Committee member Kumari Selja has raised strong objections to the detention of Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other opposition leaders during an INDIA bloc demonstration in New Delhi on October 6.

According to Selja, the opposition leaders were marching from the Parliament area towards the Election Commission while demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The demonstration continued for several hours, after which Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and several other leaders were taken into police custody and subsequently released.

Reacting to the development, Selja said the right to raise political issues through peaceful and democratic means is an important part of a functioning democracy. She stressed that political parties, civil society, the media and constitutional institutions all have distinct responsibilities in preserving public confidence in the democratic system.

Public Trust in Institutions Must Remain Central

Selja said the credibility and impartiality of the Election Commission are matters of fundamental public importance. She maintained that citizens must have confidence that the institutions responsible for conducting elections will function independently and fairly.

She said the Congress would continue its democratic struggle over the demand concerning the Chief Election Commissioner. At the same time, she argued that the wider issue goes beyond any single political party or individual and concerns the public’s faith in constitutional and democratic institutions.

Her remarks also placed the judiciary and media within the broader institutional framework. Selja said these institutions must preserve their independence, impartiality and credibility while performing their constitutional and public responsibilities and protecting democratic values and citizens’ rights.

Democratic Opposition Is Part of the Constitutional Process

Selja said the dispute should not be viewed merely as a confrontation involving one leader or one political organisation. In her view, the larger question is how democratic institutions retain public confidence while political disagreements are expressed through constitutional and peaceful means.

She said opposition to government policies and even a campaign seeking a change of government must remain within the framework of the Constitution and democratic procedures. Political parties, she added, have the responsibility to present their positions before the people and pursue political change through legitimate democratic channels.

The Congress and INDIA bloc, she said, would continue to place their concerns over the policies of the BJP-led government before the public and would pursue political change through democratic means.

Responsibility Extends Beyond Political Parties

According to Selja, the responsibility for maintaining the credibility of democratic institutions cannot rest with political parties alone. She said the government and the opposition, the Election Commission, judiciary, media and civil society all have a role in strengthening the democratic framework.

She emphasised that institutional credibility is closely linked to public confidence. When citizens believe that constitutional institutions can perform their duties independently and fairly, democratic processes gain greater legitimacy. Conversely, questions about impartiality can become a source of public concern and political debate.

Selja’s statement therefore framed the October 6 detention episode within a wider argument about institutional trust, peaceful political expression and the need to protect constitutional values.

Selja Also Raises Paddy Procurement Concerns

In a separate part of her statement, Selja raised concerns over the procurement and lifting of paddy at mandis, particularly as arrivals increase during the procurement season. She said the pace of procurement, lifting and storage arrangements should keep pace with the arrival of the crop.

She said farmers naturally become concerned when purchased or unsold paddy remains in the open and weather conditions are uncertain. The government and procurement agencies, she said, should ensure that farmers do not face unnecessary waiting before their produce is purchased under the prescribed process.

Selja also called for timely lifting of procured paddy, adequate gunny bags and sufficient storage arrangements. She said payments to farmers should be made on time and that practical problems faced by farmers, commission agents and labourers at mandis should be addressed promptly by the local administration.

She said procurement arrangements should be organised in a manner that prevents farmers from having to remain at mandis for several days with their produce. The focus, she added, should remain on timely procurement, efficient movement of stocks and a system that reduces avoidable hardship for farmers during the peak season.