'13.5L families dropped from BPL list in 6 months', Selja demands explanation
Chandigarh: Congress Working Committee (CWC) member and Sirsa MP Kumari Selja on Saturday questioned the removal of 13.5 lakh families from Haryana ’s BPL list within six months, alleging that the BJP govt had identified a large number of poor families before the assembly elections but was now questioning their eligibility.
Selja said the number of BPL families had risen to around 52.50 lakh before the elections, but fell to 39.89 lakh within six months. She sought an explanation for what economic or social transformation had taken place during this period to make 13.5 lakh families suddenly ineligible for welfare benefits .
The senior Congress functionary questioned whether the families’ incomes had increased substantially or whether BPL cards had been issued before the elections without adequate verification.
Selja said a BPL card was crucial for accessing ration, healthcare, education and other welfare schemes and warned that genuine beneficiaries should not be deprived without transparent verification.
She demanded the release of district-wise details of the 13.5 lakh families removed from the list and the disclosure of the criteria and reasons for their exclusion. She also called for gram sabhas, local bodies and affected families to be involved in the verification process, along with a simple, time-bound appeal mechanism.
Selja also accused the BJP of attempting to divert attention from governance failures by raising religious and caste issues. She said Haryana’s real concerns included corruption, unemployment, youth migration, rising crime and growing insecurity about the future.
“Govt should answer these questions instead of provoking religious and caste sentiments,” she said, adding that people were increasingly recognising such attempts to divert attention from governance issues.
Selja said the number of BPL families had risen to around 52.50 lakh before the elections, but fell to 39.89 lakh within six months. She sought an explanation for what economic or social transformation had taken place during this period to make 13.5 lakh families suddenly ineligible for welfare benefits .
The senior Congress functionary questioned whether the families’ incomes had increased substantially or whether BPL cards had been issued before the elections without adequate verification.
Selja said a BPL card was crucial for accessing ration, healthcare, education and other welfare schemes and warned that genuine beneficiaries should not be deprived without transparent verification.
She demanded the release of district-wise details of the 13.5 lakh families removed from the list and the disclosure of the criteria and reasons for their exclusion. She also called for gram sabhas, local bodies and affected families to be involved in the verification process, along with a simple, time-bound appeal mechanism.
Selja also accused the BJP of attempting to divert attention from governance failures by raising religious and caste issues. She said Haryana’s real concerns included corruption, unemployment, youth migration, rising crime and growing insecurity about the future.
“Govt should answer these questions instead of provoking religious and caste sentiments,” she said, adding that people were increasingly recognising such attempts to divert attention from governance issues.
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