Chandigarh: Former chief minister and leader of the opposition in Haryana assembly Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Friday objected to the BJP govt’s decision to cut old-age pensions.Hooda said the BJP was so intoxicated by power in its third term that it was recklessly cutting the ration cards and pensions of millions of poor people. In Ambala district alone, the BPL ration cards and pensions of approximately 54,000 families were cut, he said.The former CM said, according to central govt data, votes were taken in the Haryana assembly elections and now more than 14 lakh ration cards were cut, the highest in the country. Similarly, the pensions of thousands of elderly people were also cut.Hooda said while the elderly repeatedly pleaded at govt offices to get their pensions reinstated, the arrogant govt claimed that no elderly pension was cut. This was like adding insult to injury.The LoP said the Congress govt increased the old-age pension from Rs 300 to Rs 1,500, a five-fold increase. Meanwhile, the BJP govt only increased it by Rs 2 in 11 years, while inflation increased three-four times.Hooda said Congress would strongly raise this issue in the upcoming budget session and not allow this govt to take away the support of the elderly under any circumstances.MSID:: 128308422 413 |
