The Sirsa MP, Former Union Cabinet Minister, General Secretary of All India Congress Committee and Congress Working Committee (CWC) Member Kumari Selja strongly objected to the detention of Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other Opposition leaders during the INDIA bloc protest in New Delhi. On October 6, Opposition leaders were marching from the Parliament area towards the Election Commission and demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. After the protest continued for several hours, police detained Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and several other leaders, who were later released.
Kumari Selja said political parties, civil society, the media and constitutional institutions all have their respective responsibilities in a democracy. She said the right to put forward one’s views through peaceful and democratic means is an important part of the democratic system. She said public confidence in the impartiality and credibility of the Election Commission is paramount and that Congress would continue its democratic struggle over the demand for the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner. She also said the judiciary and media must maintain their independence, impartiality and credibility while fulfilling their constitutional and institutional role in protecting democratic values and citizens’ rights. Kumari Selja said the struggle was not limited to any one individual or political party but concerned maintaining public confidence in democratic institutions. Opposition to the government and a change of power must also remain within the framework of the Constitution and democratic processes.
She said Congress and the INDIA bloc would present their views among the people against the policies of the BJP government and continue their struggle for political change through democratic means. She said whether it is the government or Opposition, the Election Commission, judiciary, media or civil society, everyone has a responsibility to ensure that the country’s democratic system and the credibility of its institutions remain strong.
:-The Government must speed up paddy procurement and lifting in mandis:-Kumari Selja
Kumari Selja, raising the issues faced by paddy-producing farmers, said procurement, lifting and storage arrangements must be ensured at the same pace as the increase in arrivals at mandis. Amid paddy lying in the open and the possibility of changing weather conditions, it was natural for farmers’ concerns to increase. She said it was the responsibility of the government and procurement agencies to ensure that farmers did not have to wait unnecessarily to sell their produce and that their crop was purchased according to the prescribed process.
She said timely lifting of procured paddy, adequate gunny bags and storage arrangements must be ensured, along with timely payment to farmers. The administration should resolve on the spot the practical problems being faced by farmers, commission agents and labourers in the mandis. Kumari Selja said arrangements during the procurement season should be such that farmers do not have to remain troubled in mandis for several days after bringing their hard-earned produce.
