Manoranjan Kalia slams illegal inclusion of party functionaries’ names on foundation stones
Member of the BJP National Executive and former Punjab Local Bodies Minister, Manoranjan Kalia, has strongly objected to the inclusion of non-elected party functionaries’ names on foundation stones of development projects in Jalandhar.
Rajat Kumar
Oct 12, 2025 07:22
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Jalandhar, October 12, 2025: Member of the BJP National Executive and former Punjab Local Bodies Minister, Manoranjan Kalia, has strongly objected to the inclusion of non-elected party functionaries’ names on foundation stones of development projects in Jalandhar.
Addressing a press conference here on Sunday, Kalia stated that as per democratic and federal norms, only the names of Ministers, elected representatives of the concerned area, and officers of the relevant departments should be mentioned on foundation stones.
He emphasized that this practice has been meticulously followed in India’s three-tier system of governance—comprising the Centre, States, and Local Bodies—and it is the duty of the administrative head at each level to ensure compliance. “No name other than those of the authorized individuals can be engraved on foundation stones, however important one may be in the ruling party,” he asserted.
Referring to a recent incident, Kalia pointed out that on October 11, 2025, the Municipal Corporation Jalandhar inaugurated development works in Ward Nos. 19 and 29, where the foundation stones carried the names of Nitin Kohli, Halka Incharge (Jalandhar Central) of the Aam Aadmi Party, along with Tarandeep Singh (Ward 19 Incharge) and Naresh Sharma (Ward 29 Incharge).
“These individuals are not elected representatives and hold no constitutional authority,” Kalia said, terming the act “illegal and unconstitutional”. He further held the Commissioner, Municipal Corporation Jalandhar, as the administrative head of the local body, responsible and answerable for allowing such a violation.
Kalia added that the officers involved in executing this “illegal and unconstitutional” act would also be held accountable and face disciplinary action after the 2027 Punjab Assembly Elections.
