Congress MP Kumari Selja has accused the BJP-led government at the Centre of creating an “undeclared emergency-like situation” in the country, alleging that the democratic rights of opposition leaders and peaceful protesters are being undermined through police action.
Selja, the Sirsa MP, former Union Cabinet Minister, AICC general secretary, Congress in-charge for Uttarakhand and a member of the Congress Working Committee, strongly criticised the reported detention of Congress leaders, students and protesters in Delhi, Haryana and other parts of the country. She said the authorities should respect constitutional rights and respond to political dissent through democratic dialogue rather than the use of force.
Her remarks came amid a political dispute over the functioning of the Election Commission and concerns raised by the Congress regarding the protection of voting rights. Selja said Congress leaders, under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, were pursuing a peaceful democratic struggle on these issues.
According to Selja, opposition MPs seeking to meet the Election Commission were stopped outside Akashvani Bhawan in Delhi. She expressed concern over what she described as the Commission’s unwillingness to meet elected representatives, arguing that such a situation raised serious questions about institutional accountability.
Selja maintained that elected representatives must be able to raise public concerns and seek answers from constitutional institutions. If opposition MPs are prevented from moving freely or presenting their views in the vicinity of Parliament, she said, it becomes necessary to examine the implications for democratic functioning.
She also criticised the deployment of heavy police personnel and barricades to restrict political demonstrations. In her view, security arrangements cannot be used as a means of silencing public concerns or preventing peaceful political expression.
Selja Condemns Detention of MLA Sheeshpal Singh Keharwala
Selja separately condemned the reported detention of Congress MLA Sheeshpal Singh Keharwala, who represents Kalanwali, along with other senior Congress leaders. She said they were detained by police while on their way to participate in the democratic protest underway in Delhi.
Questioning the action, Selja asked whether elected representatives could be denied the right to participate in peaceful demonstrations. She argued that a government should answer political opposition through dialogue and engagement rather than detention.
The Congress leader said her party would continue to defend the Constitution, democratic institutions and citizens’ rights. She maintained that people expected public institutions to remain accountable and that the government had a responsibility to listen to their concerns.
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Concern Over Reported Detentions in Sirsa
Selja also alleged that people in Sirsa, as in Delhi and other parts of Haryana, were being taken into custody and transported to locations far from where they had been detained.
She expressed concern over the reported treatment of citizens and political workers participating in peaceful protests, saying that such actions were inconsistent with democratic values. She called for the release of peaceful protesters who had been detained and urged the authorities to ensure that citizens’ constitutional rights were respected.
The allegations concerning individual detentions and police actions were presented by Selja as part of her criticism of the government’s response to political demonstrations. The supplied statement did not include an independent police account or a detailed official response to the allegations.
NEWS NOTE
The detention-related claims in this report reflect allegations made by Kumari Selja in the statement provided to Pen of Democracy. No independent police account or official response was included in the supplied material.
Selja argued that police action would not resolve the questions being raised by citizens. She said the public had a right to seek accountability from democratic institutions and that political disagreements should be addressed within the constitutional framework.
She reiterated that the Congress would continue its struggle to protect democratic principles and constitutional rights. Selja also said that people had the democratic power to bring about a change of government through the electoral process.
The controversy has highlighted the political divide over the space available for peaceful protest, the relationship between opposition parties and constitutional institutions, and the responsibilities of the authorities when demonstrations take place. Selja’s central demand was that elected representatives and ordinary citizens should be allowed to express their views peacefully, without being subjected to arbitrary restrictions. She urged the government to respect democratic freedoms and ensure that dissent was addressed through dialogue rather than coercive action.
