Kumari Selja Raises Paper Leak, Jobs and Voter List Concerns During Sirsa Visit

Kumari Selja raises paper leak, jobs and voter-list concerns during Sirsa visit, questions government response on public issues

SIRSA | PEN OF DEMOCRACY NEWS DESK

Speaking to the media after attending a satsang in Sirsa, the Congress MP also raised concerns about sanitation workers and digital payments, while stressing the social message of saints and spiritual leaders

Paper Leaks and Recruitment Concerns Put Youth Issues in Focus

Sirsa MP, former Union minister and Congress general secretary Kumari Selja raised a series of issues concerning education, recruitment, employment and public services during her visit to Sirsa. She was speaking to the media after attending a satsang organised by Dera Baba Bhumanshah Sangat Sadh at the Sirsa grain market, where she also spoke about the wider social role of religious and spiritual institutions.

On competitive examinations and recruitment, Selja alleged that repeated reports of paper leaks and irregularities in recruitment processes were affecting young people who spend years preparing for examinations. She said that when examination papers are compromised or recruitment procedures face allegations of irregularity, students and job aspirants who have prepared honestly can face uncertainty about their future.

Selja said the government should focus on protecting students’ interests, ensuring transparent recruitment and creating timely employment opportunities. She also referred to Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s interventions on issues concerning students and young people preparing for competitive examinations, saying that their concerns need to reach appropriate public forums.

Her comments come amid continuing public and political debate in Haryana over recruitment processes, examination integrity and employment opportunities. The concerns raised by Selja are her political assessment of the situation; allegations regarding particular examinations or recruitment processes require verification from the concerned authorities and official records.

Voter List Concerns Also Raised by Selja

Selja also raised questions about names being removed from electoral rolls. She claimed that a large number of people had been affected and said some citizens were having to approach offices to seek clarification or take steps to have their names included again. She stressed that the right to vote is a fundamental part of democratic participation and said eligible voters should not be deprived of that right.

The issue of electoral-roll revision is also an active administrative matter in Sirsa. The district administration recently held a meeting with political parties on the special intensive revision of electoral rolls and said claims and objections could be submitted until September 30, with disposal scheduled by October 28 and final publication of the roll on November 6.

Selja’s remarks therefore come against the backdrop of an ongoing official revision process. Her claim about names being removed should be distinguished from the administration’s published schedule and procedures for claims and objections.

Sanitation Workers’ Demands Need a Lasting Solution, Says Selja

The Congress MP also spoke about sanitation workers and their pending demands. She alleged that promises made to sanitation employees had not been adequately fulfilled and said their concerns should be addressed through dialogue with employee organisations rather than leaving workers to face prolonged uncertainty.

The issue has remained significant across Haryana in recent weeks. The state sanitation workers’ strike ended after an agreement with the government, but a workers’ union subsequently alleged that hundreds of employees were still awaiting permission to rejoin duty in several municipalities, including Sirsa. Sirsa’s municipal authorities have meanwhile been reviewing sanitation work after the strike, with officials inspecting areas affected by accumulated garbage.

Selja called for the government to engage with employee representatives and find a durable solution to legitimate demands. Her comments were framed around workers’ employment conditions and the need to restore confidence between employees and the administration.

Digital Payment Decisions Should Protect Traders’ Interests, Says Selja

On digital payments and UPI-related policy, Selja said decisions affecting merchant transactions should take account of the interests of small traders, shopkeepers and consumers. She argued that digital payments have become an important part of even small businesses and said any additional financial burden could have implications for merchants operating on tight margins.

The issue has recently generated discussion among traders in Sirsa. The Tribune reported that a proposed 0.4 per cent Merchant Discount Rate on specified UPI merchant transactions above ₹2,000 from October 15 had drawn opposition from local traders and Selja, while person-to-person transactions were reported to remain exempt. The debate has centred on how any merchant charge could affect the cost of digital transactions for small businesses.

Selja said policy decisions in this area should be examined from the perspective of both merchants and ordinary consumers. She also referred to concerns raised by Rahul Gandhi and called for consideration of the wider economic impact on small businesses.

Selja Highlights the Social Message of Saints and Spiritual Leaders

During the satsang programme, Selja said Baba Brahmdas Maharaj was conveying a message of devotion, brotherhood and social unity to people from different communities. She said the teachings of saints and spiritual figures can contribute to social harmony and encourage people to maintain mutual respect.

The gathering at the Sirsa grain market brought together devotees for a religious programme in which the emphasis was on spiritual reflection and community participation. Selja’s remarks linked the occasion with the broader role of social and religious institutions in promoting harmony and cooperation.

Selja Pays Tribute to Martyr Lance Naik Sukhchain Singh

Selja also visited the residence of martyr Lance Naik Sukhchain Singh in Kuttabad village and met his family members. She paid tribute to the soldier and expressed condolences to the bereaved family, recalling his service in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri sector.

Sukhchain Singh, aged 30, was killed in the line of duty in Rajouri on September 3, according to a recent report by The Tribune. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini had also visited the family in Kuttabad and offered condolences.

Selja said the martyr’s courage, dedication and service to the country would be remembered with respect. She conveyed her sympathies to the family and paid tribute to the sacrifice made while performing military duty.

Selja Attends Baba Jiwan Singh Prakash Parv Programme

Selja also visited Gurudwara Sahib Dasvin Patshahi in Sirsa and paid obeisance during a programme marking the Prakash Parv of Shaheed Baba Jiwan Singh. She said Baba Jiwan Singh’s sacrifice, courage and dedication continue to offer a message of service, equality and commitment to humanity.

She extended greetings to the congregation and described the occasion as an opportunity to remember values associated with service, courage and social equality. Her visits to the religious programme and the martyr’s family formed the social and community part of her Sirsa engagements alongside the political issues she raised before the media.