Sangrur (Punjab), October 26: Ahead of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s proposed visit to Sangrur on November 4, resident Jasinder Sekhon has written an open letter urging him to hear residents’ concerns over former minister Vijay Inder Singla’s alleged role in a series of contentious issues involving land use, environmental damage and the town’s heritage.
In the letter addressed to Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Sekhon alleged that repeated emails sent since 2018 regarding Singla’s conduct had gone unanswered. She urged Gandhi not to back Singla for political representation in Sangrur, arguing that residents’ concerns deserved a hearing.
The letter raises several issues, including the proposed Shree Cement plant at Deh Kalan village, around six kilometres from Sangrur, the cutting of trees in and around the town, the historic Maharaja Ranbir Club and alleged unauthorised construction.
On the proposed cement plant, Sekhon alleged that Singla had facilitated the grant of change-of-land-use (CLU) permission despite concerns about its potential impact on agricultural land and nearly 15 surrounding villages.
She said farmers, including 94-year-old Harbinder Singh Sekhon of Fatehgarh Channa, along with Vasant Valley Public School, Ladda, had challenged the permission in court and secured its cancellation by the Supreme Court. She also acknowledged the contribution of senior advocate and former Attorney General of India Mukul Rohatgi, who represented the farmers pro bono.
The letter further refers to alleged large-scale tree felling in Sangrur and surrounding areas in 2019, stating that related proceedings are pending before the Punjab and Haryana High Court and a court in Sangrur.
It also raises concerns over the historic Maharaja Ranbir Club, alleging that an attempt to take it over is being challenged before the High Court. Sekhon additionally referred to a case concerning alleged unauthorised construction in which, according to the letter, Singla has been impleaded as a party and notice has been issued to him.
Sekhon also recounted an alleged personal incident involving abusive language by Singla during a telephone conversation, describing it as unbecoming of a public representative.
Requesting a meeting during Gandhi’s proposed visit, Sekhon said she was willing to present documents relating to the issues raised in the letter. Copies were also marked to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, party general secretary K.C. Venugopal, Punjab Congress president Pargat Singh and Singla, among others.
AN OPEN LETTER TO Mr. RAHUL GANDHI
To
Mr Rahul Gandhi
Member of Parliament
Leader of the Opposition, Lok Sabha
New Delhi
Subject: Welcome to Sangrur — But Please Hear the Voice of Its People
Dear Mr. Gandhi,
I have just read in Babushahi about your proposed visit to Sangrur on 4 November 2026.
While we welcome you to our area, we are deeply disappointed that you have chosen to ignore our repeated emails since 2018 concerning the conduct of Mr. Vijay Inder Singla, who, in our considered opinion, has done his utmost to damage Sangrur, its surrounding villages and their environment.
We, the residents of this area, have fought long and hard to protect our land, livelihoods and heritage. Our struggle has taken us all the way to the Supreme Court, where we have secured relief.
One of the most glaring examples concerns the proposed Shree Cement plant at village Deh Kalan, barely six kilometres from Sangrur, on fertile agricultural land. We allege that Mr. Singla personally facilitated the grant of Change of Land Use (CLU) permission in an unlawful manner, despite the potentially devastating consequences for nearly 15 surrounding villages and Sangrur city itself.
A 94-year-old farmer, Sardar Harbinder Singh Sekhon of village Fatehgarh Channa, together with other farmers and Vasant Valley Public School, Ladda, fought this battle up to the Supreme Court. Their efforts ultimately resulted in the cancellation of the CLU permission for the proposed cement plant.
It is particularly important to acknowledge that Mr. Mukul Rohatgi, Senior Advocate and former Attorney General of India, represented the farmers pro bono. We shall remain eternally grateful to him for this noble gesture and his invaluable contribution towards saving our area.
I must also place on record a deeply disturbing personal experience. During the course of my pursuit of this matter before the Supreme Court, I personally heard Mr. Singla use extremely abusive language about me during a telephone conversation with a close friend. Such conduct, if accurately reflecting his attitude towards those who question him, is wholly unbecoming of a public representative.
Mr. Gandhi, we respectfully but firmly request you not to impose Mr. Singla upon Sangrur again. In our assessment, his record makes him unfit to represent this constituency—or, indeed, any other constituency. Public office is a responsibility to protect the people, not a licence to disregard their interests.
Our objections are neither casual nor politically motivated. They arise from years of struggle over matters of substantial public importance.
Mr. Singla’s alleged role in the large-scale cutting of old trees in Sangrur city and its surrounding areas in 2019, resulting in a serious depletion of green cover, is the subject of legal proceedings stated to be pending before the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the Court of the Additional Sessions Judge, Sangrur.
His alleged attempt to take over the historic Maharaja Ranbir Club, an important part of Sangrur’s heritage, is also under challenge before the High Court.
Furthermore, we have raised serious objections to allegedly unauthorised construction activities in Sangrur. In one such matter pending before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Mr. Singla has been impleaded personally as a party, and notice has been issued to him.
These are serious matters that deserve examination rather than political indifference.
Mr. Gandhi, I am particularly disheartened that my numerous emails to you over the past eight years have apparently gone unanswered. We had expected a leader who speaks so frequently about accountability, farmers’ rights and environmental protection to take these concerns seriously.
If you are willing to spare us some time during your forthcoming visit, we would welcome an opportunity to meet you personally, place the relevant documents before you and explain the full circumstances surrounding Mr. Singla’s conduct.
We seek neither favours nor political patronage. We seek only a fair hearing and accountability.
I am marking a copy of this open letter to Mr. Vijay Inder Singla himself. The people of Sangrur have the courage of their convictions and are prepared to raise these concerns openly, directly and to his face.
We welcome you to Sangrur, Mr. Gandhi. But we also hope you will listen to those who have spent years fighting to protect it.
Yours sincerely,
Jasinder Sekhon
Sekhon Niwas
Adjacent to Telephone Exchange
Opposite Maharaja Ranbir Club
Sangrur, Punjab
Mobile: 9814311951
CC: Mr. Mallikarjun Kharge ,
Member Parliament ,
President AICC & LOP , Rajya Sabha ,
Mr. KC Venugopal,
Member Parliament,
Gen. Secy. Organisation AICC India .
Mr. Pargat Singh ,
MLA & President PPCC .
Mr. Kaushal Vidyarthee,
PS to Mr. Rahul Gandhi
Mr. Vijayinder Singla ,
Ex MP & Ex. MLA. Punjab .