New Delhi: The Congress’s Haryana unit chief Kumari Selja has hit out at party ‘dissenters’ who have been demanding internal elections, saying they are only “helping the BJP by raising these issues at such a time”.
Speaking to ThePrint in an exclusive interview, Selja said the party will not benefit from the clamour for internal elections.
“The high command has never imposed anyone (on the states),” Selja said. “It’s always a decision (appointing state leaders) taken keeping state leaders in the loop; the central leadership only shows political direction. And that’s how it should be too.”
In August last year, as many as 23 Congress leaders had signed a letter addressed to Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi demanding internal elections for the post of party president, as well as for block and district units.
Among them was former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Hooda, who in an interview to ThePrint last week, pointed to lack of office-bearers in the state unit.
“There have been no district or block presidents in the Haryana Congress in the last six years,” Hooda had said. “How will the party fight, then? We all need to sit together and think about how to strengthen the party.”
Selja, however, said she does not find the demand for internal elections very “appropriate”.
“Election ho, yeh ho, woh ho, aisee baaton ko aaj ke din mein auchatya nahi samjhungi (That there should be elections and this, that, the other…I don’t find such talks appropriate at this time),” she said.
While Selja did not name anyone, she said those who are making such demands are only working to “weaken the party”.
“If someone is raising such issues in various states, then they are only working to weaken the party, or helping the BJP’s game,” she added. “We need to act like a responsible opposition party, and not point fingers at each other.”
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‘Suspending internet won’t deter farmer mobilisation’
Selja also hit out at the BJP-JJP government in Haryana for suspending internet and SMS services in several districts of the state.
The government had first suspended the services in 14 districts Friday, and restored them in seven districts Monday. It has cited law and order considerations in the aftermath of the 26 January violence and mayhem.
“This just shows that the government has begun to panic, and so is releasing orders like these. But they don’t realise that you can’t stop movements and agitations by using these tactics,” Selja said. “What are they trying to show? Have they imposed an emergency in the country? But their tactics will be in vain. It will make no difference to the movement; this is a movement of people’s hearts.”
Selja, however, did say the internet suspension is “severely hurting” people of the state, particularly the students. Haryana’s Kurukshetra University has postponed its annual examinations, after the government suspended internet facilities.
“Our students are suffering so much due to this, as are people who have businesses. On the other hand, the government keeps talking about embracing new technology and on the other hand, they take away the internet,” Selja said.
‘Haryana MLAs know they are on the wrong side’
On the question of internal rifts emerging between allies BJP and JJP over the ongoing farmers’ movement, Selja said it is a “weak government standing on crutches as it is”.
“This government is standing with the support of crutches, which is why it keeps hobbling,” Selja said.
The leader had earlier said the Congress is in touch with several of the MLAs, and could come to power.
“Many MLAs realise that they are on the wrong side when it comes to the farm laws. Moreover, when they go out in the streets, they have to face the anger of the farmer and ordinary people,” Selja said. “The MLAs need to realise that their ultimate commitment is to the people who voted them in, and their demands should be heard.”
The Congress party has also said it will be moving a no-confidence motion against the BJP-JJP government once the state assembly session begins.
Selja, however, added that the party isn’t looking for “electoral gains” by supporting the farmers “but taking the stand against the laws because it is the right thing to do”.
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Congress’ setbacks
In December, while the BJP-JJP government suffered a setback in the Haryana local body polls, losing a number of seats across various bodies, the Congress lost the mayoral election in Panchkula and also Ambala — Kumari Selja’s home turf.
Selja has been a two-time MP from the state, besides now holding the post of Haryana Congress chief.
She, however, attributed the losses to “local factors”.
“BJP didn’t win Ambala either, another party did. And in Panchkula…the speaker of the Haryana assembly (Gian Chand Gupta) is also the MLA from there,” Selja said.
“But never mind that. The farm laws have severely damaged the BJP — in villages and cities alike,” Selja added.
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