The Congress party and the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) have condemned the Haryana government's handling of the ongoing strike by 40,000 contractual sanitation workers, who have been protesting for 11 days. This strike has resulted in significant public inconvenience, with garbage piling up in cities and blocked sewer lines. INLD patron Sampat Singh criticized the government's 'Swachh Bharat' and 'Smart City' initiatives as ineffective slogans. Former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda echoed these sentiments, stating that the sanitation situation is dire and poses health risks due to accumulated waste and rain. Singh also highlighted that sanitation workers have not received their April salaries, leading to financial distress for many families. He urged the government to regularize these workers and provide them with safety kits, while also calling for posthumous recognition and financial support for the families of two fire service employees who died on duty.