Haryana District Councilors Sell Pakoras for ₹1 in Unique Protest for Development Funds

District councilors and block committee members chose an unconventional way to voice their demands by setting up food stalls outside the Zila Parishad office on Gohana Road in Sonipat. The protesters cooked pakoras (fritters) and sold them for just ₹1, symbolically demonstrating their claim that the government has left them "unemployed" and unable to serve their constituencies effectively.

Key Demands and Grievances

The protesting members are demanding annual development grants similar to those received by MPs and MLAs. Their primary request includes an allocation of ₹1 crore for each district councilor and ₹50 lakh for block committee members annually. Sant Kumar, one of the protesting councilors, emphasized that current development grants are insufficient for meaningful village development work.

Meeting with Chief Minister Yields No Results

Despite meeting with Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini to discuss their demands, the councilors claim no concrete actions have been taken. The protesters argue that while the government addresses demands from other sections of society, their legitimate needs for development funds remain unmet. They insist these funds are crucial for executing development projects in rural areas. 

Threat of Escalation

The councilors have warned of intensifying their protest if their demands continue to be ignored. They've announced plans for a collective hunger strike involving district councilors from across Haryana if the government fails to address their concerns soon. The protesters maintain that as the largest Panchayati Raj institution, the Zila Parishad deserves appropriate authority and resources.