Congress national general secretary and Sirsa MP Kumari Selja speaks on unemployment, inflation, public services and law and order.
Congress national general secretary says Selja unemployment, inflation, farmers’ concerns, public services and law and order must remain the focus of political debate
CHANDIGARH/ PEN OF DEMOCRACY NEWS DESK
Sirsa MP, former Union minister, Congress national general secretary and CWC member Kumari Selja has accused the BJP of attempting to divert public attention from issues such as unemployment, inflation, corruption and deteriorating law and order by promoting religious polarisation and caste-based issues ahead of elections in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and several other states. She said the Congress would continue to oppose divisive politics and firmly raise issues directly affecting the lives of ordinary citizens.
Selja said political parties in a democracy should be evaluated on the performance of their governments, welfare policies and the extent to which promises made to the people have been fulfilled. She said attempts to create divisions in society on religious or caste lines were neither in the interest of the country nor conducive to a healthy democratic system.
She urged citizens to rise above such issues and demand answers from governments on employment, education, healthcare, inflation, farmers’ concerns, women’s safety and law and order. According to her, these are the fundamental issues that determine the quality of life of citizens and should receive greater attention in political discourse.
Selja said the BJP had made several major claims and commitments after coming to power, including doubling farmers’ incomes, providing housing to all, creating employment opportunities for young people on a large scale and developing cities through smart city initiatives. She said the government should now explain how much progress had actually been made on these commitments and how many of the promises had translated into tangible benefits for people.
She said the country’s youth continued to struggle for employment, while employees were raising demands and ordinary families were facing the impact of rising prices. In such circumstances, she said, governments should focus on resolving people’s concerns instead of allowing political discourse to be dominated by divisive issues.
The Congress leader also raised concerns over the increasing use of technology and online portals for government services in Haryana. She said digital systems were intended to make governance easier and more accessible, but many citizens were facing difficulties because an increasing number of public services depended on online platforms.
Selja said elderly citizens, rural residents and people with limited knowledge of digital technology needed special assistance to access government services. She said technology should function as a facilitator and should not become an obstacle between citizens and the administration.
According to Selja, digital governance can improve transparency and efficiency only when citizens are able to use the systems without unnecessary complications. She said the government should ensure that adequate assistance is available to people who are unfamiliar with digital processes so that they are not forced to depend on others for basic public services.
She also expressed concern over inflation and its impact on household finances. Selja said rising prices of food items, milk, household necessities and fuel were placing additional pressure on middle-class and economically weaker families.
She called for effective measures to control inflation and provide relief to ordinary households. She said governments should not assess the economic situation merely through official statistics but should also consider the actual financial burden being faced by families in markets and households.
Selja further expressed concern over the law and order situation in Haryana. She said repeated reports of criminal incidents had contributed to a growing sense of insecurity among ordinary citizens. Ensuring the safety of every citizen, she said, was one of the most important responsibilities of any government.
She called for strict and impartial action against criminals and greater accountability within the police and administrative system. According to her, citizens should have confidence that their complaints will be taken seriously and that law enforcement agencies will act fairly and promptly.
The Congress leader said several sections of society were raising concerns over different issues. Young people were worried about employment, employees were protesting over their demands, farmers were seeking solutions to their problems and people associated with the health sector were also raising various concerns.
She said that when different sections of society are repeatedly compelled to come onto the streets to highlight their grievances, the government should engage with them through dialogue instead of confrontation. Democratic governance, she added, requires authorities to listen to legitimate concerns and work towards their resolution.
Selja said unemployment was particularly important because prolonged lack of suitable opportunities can create economic insecurity among young people and place additional pressure on their families. She clarified that unemployment does not mean that every unemployed person will turn towards crime, but prolonged financial uncertainty and frustration can create difficult social circumstances.
She said the government therefore needed to adopt a comprehensive approach involving education, skill development and adequate employment opportunities. Young people, she said, should be given access to dignified and stable employment so that they can build secure futures and contribute productively to the economy.
She also stressed the need to strengthen public education and healthcare systems. Citizens should be able to access essential public services without unnecessary administrative hurdles, she said, adding that government schemes should reach their intended beneficiaries effectively.
Selja said the Congress would continue to challenge the BJP’s political approach through democratic and constitutional means. She said the party’s priorities included employment generation, relief from inflation, social justice, protection of farmers’ and employees’ interests, better education and healthcare and a stronger law and order system.
She appealed to citizens across the country to remain cautious about attempts to divide society on religious and caste lines, particularly during election periods. She said elections should provide an opportunity for voters to assess governments on their performance, policies and record rather than on divisive identity-based campaigns.
According to Selja, citizens have the democratic right to ask governments what has been done to improve employment, support farmers, strengthen public services, control inflation and ensure public safety. She said political parties should be prepared to answer such questions and place their governance records before the people.
She maintained that political debate should remain focused on issues that affect people’s everyday lives. Employment for young people, affordable living costs, quality education and healthcare, support for farmers, women’s safety and effective law enforcement, she said, require sustained attention irrespective of electoral cycles.
Selja said social harmony and national unity should remain above political considerations. In a diverse country such as India, she said, political activity should strengthen fraternity and mutual respect rather than deepen social divisions.
She also said citizens should evaluate political parties on their policies, implementation and governance records. Promises made during elections, she said, must be followed by measurable action and accountability.
The Congress leader said her party would continue to raise issues concerning ordinary citizens and oppose what it considers attempts to divert public attention from fundamental governance concerns. She said the country needs political discourse that addresses genuine problems rather than one that creates unnecessary divisions.
Selja urged voters to focus on questions concerning employment, inflation, education, healthcare, farmers, women’s security and law and order. She said these issues affect families across communities and should form the basis of meaningful democratic debate.
She reiterated that India’s unity, fraternity and social harmony were fundamental to the country’s democratic strength. No political interest, she said, should be allowed to weaken these values.
Selja said the coming elections in different states should be treated as an opportunity for citizens to examine the performance of governments and make informed choices. She said voters should ask what has been delivered, what remains incomplete and what concrete plans are being offered for the future.
She concluded that the Congress would continue to raise public-interest issues through democratic and constitutional channels. She said the party would remain committed to employment, social justice, accessible public services, economic relief and a safe environment for citizens.
