Kumari Selja Raises Farmers, Jobs and Electoral Transparency Issues at Bhattu Congress Convention

Kumari Selja raises farmers, jobs and electoral transparency issues at Bhattu Congress convention

CHANDIGARH | PEN OF DEMOCRACY NEWS DESK

Congress national general secretary and Sirsa MP Kumari Selja on Wednesday raised issues concerning farmers, workers, young people and ordinary families while addressing the Bhattu Block Congress Convention.

According to her remarks at the convention, public concerns in areas including Nathusari Chopta, along with wider questions concerning employment, inflation, education, agriculture and democratic institutions, required sustained attention from Congress workers.

Selja Raises Farmers, Employment and Education Concerns

Selja alleged that policies of the BJP government had caused difficulties for farmers, labourers, young people and ordinary families. She said Congress workers would continue taking public issues to villages, polling booths and households while raising concerns relating to constitutional rights, democracy and voting rights.

She also criticised what she described as attempts to shift public attention away from unemployment, inflation, education, agriculture and industrial difficulties by raising religious and caste-related issues during election periods.

Questions Raised Over Electoral Transparency

A major part of Selja’s address focused on the functioning of the Election Commission and transparency in the electoral process. Referring to a report published by The Indian Express, she said voters deserved clear answers if important decisions concerning elections were repeatedly accompanied by internal objections.

The Indian Express reported on Wednesday that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had formally recorded objections at least 14 times over a 10-month period concerning certain decisions and orders. The report also examined objections concerning changes to Form 6, used for new voter registration.

The Election Commission has disputed the interpretation that these objections represented an internal breakdown, with reports quoting EC sources saying decisions, including those concerning electoral-roll revision, were unanimous. Selja called for the matters raised in the report to be examined objectively and for voters to receive transparent information.

Selja Backs Greater Accountability in Election Process

Selja also referred to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s demands for greater transparency and accountability in electoral rolls and election procedures. She said questions concerning the electoral process should be addressed through independent examination and clear institutional responses.

She further alleged that sections of the media were facing pressure and claimed that investigative-agency action was being used to discourage critical reporting. These were political allegations made by Selja during her address and are presented here as her claims.

Employment, Drugs and Fertiliser Availability Also Discussed

Turning to broader governance concerns, Selja criticised the BJP government over what she described as unfulfilled promises. She raised issues involving employment opportunities, examination paper leaks, drug abuse, shortages of teachers and vacancies in educational institutions.

She also alleged that farmers in several places were facing difficulties in obtaining fertiliser on time and claimed that some had been required to collect fertiliser through police stations. She criticised what she described as attempts to weaken MGNREGA and alleged that industrial activity had suffered.

Selja further alleged that the government was giving excessive consideration to large industrial groups and raised criticism concerning India’s dealings with the United States. These remarks were part of her political address and were not independently established in the material available for the event.

Congress Workers Asked to Remain Connected With Public

Selja said Congress workers had a responsibility to remain connected with people at the grassroots and continue raising issues affecting their everyday lives. She said the party would take its message concerning constitutional rights, democracy and voting rights to villages, booths and households.

The convention was attended by MLA Chander Mohan Bishnoi, MLA Balwan Singh Daulatpuria, district president Arvind Sharma, block president Sajinder Beniwal, Sirsa district president Santosh Beniwal and a large number of Congress workers and local residents. Lal Bahadur Khowal, Sudhir Godara, Mangat Ram Lalwas, Kalyan Singh, Sitaram Beniwal, Brahmanand Soni, Navneet Godara, Baljit Beniwal, Jagdish Chandra, Krishna Poonia, Surajbhan, Manoj Rathi, Shammi Rati, Rajesh Gurjar, Kulwinder Beniwal, Gurdeep Singh Chahal, Sukhdev Singh, Baljit Siwach, Ajit Machra and Tek Chand Bagri were also present.

Selja’s address brought together local concerns over farming, employment and education with wider political questions concerning electoral transparency and democratic institutions. The Election Commission’s response to the issues raised in the media report remains an important part of the public discussion, with the poll panel maintaining that its decisions were unanimous.

POD/DESK