Thanesar Congress legislator Ashok Arora launched a sharp critique against the Haryana government on Tuesday, accusing it of maintaining a deliberate silence on crucial public matters. During a press conference held in Kurukshetra, Arora demanded immediate clarity on Haryana's constitutional and administrative status in the union territory of Chandigarh.
Chandigarh Rights and Capital City Demand
Arora emphasized that the state government must explicitly explain Haryana's rights in Chandigarh. This demand gains urgency, he noted, after the central government declined approval for constructing a new Haryana Vidhan Sabha building in the shared capital. The MLA reminded that during the bifurcation of Punjab and Haryana, a 40% share of Chandigarh was allocated to Haryana. "In such a situation, the government must clearly state what Haryana’s status is in Chandigarh. However, the BJP-led state government has maintained a studied silence," Arora asserted. He was accompanied by councillors Manu Jain, Chandgi Ram, Subhash Mirzapur, and others.
Shifting focus to a longstanding proposal, Arora reiterated his demand to declare the historic city of Kurukshetra as the capital of Haryana. He argued that the time is ripe for the state to have a new capital, and Kurukshetra is the most suitable place considering its profound historical, cultural, and geographical significance. This statement was made in reference to the recently concluded winter session of the Haryana Assembly, where he raised several issues concerning his constituency.
Infrastructure Delays and Road Safety Concerns
The Congress MLA highlighted significant infrastructure delays plaguing the Kurukshetra region. He pointed out that announcements about constructing a Kurukshetra bypass have been made repeatedly over the past decade, yet no tangible progress has been made on the ground. Similarly, his proposal in the Assembly for a ring road around Kurukshetra met with no response from the government.
Arora also raised a critical demand for the four-laning of the Kurukshetra–Dhand–Kaithal road. He cited the heavy traffic volume and the alarming frequency of accidents on this stretch as primary reasons for the upgrade. This road serves as a crucial connector between Kurukshetra and National Highways 152 and 152D, and its modernization would play a vital role in enhancing commuter safety and reducing accidents significantly.
University Employment and Community Inclusion
Moving to educational and social issues, Ashok Arora expressed deep concern over employment security at Kurukshetra University. He demanded guaranteed job protection for both teaching and non-teaching staff. Specifically, he highlighted the plight of mess employees who, despite serving the university for 40 years or more, continue to receive a meager monthly wage of only Rs 11,000. "These employees deserve job security and fair wages," he stated firmly.
In a push for social justice, the MLA also raised the demand to include the Rai community of Haryana in the state's backward class category. He noted that this community, residing in villages like Mundakhera, Jyotisar, and Hariapur, is already classified as backward in the neighboring states of Punjab and Rajasthan. Their inclusion in Haryana's backward category would enable them to access various government welfare schemes and benefits, Arora argued, advocating for equitable treatment.
Concluding his address, Ashok Arora alleged that the state government demonstrates minimal concern for pressing public issues. He vowed to persistently amplify the voice of the people, both within the legislative assembly and outside it, until these demands are addressed.
