Former CM Hooda accuses BJP of creating lakhs of ration cards for votes in the elections

Rohtak, January 1, 2026: Former Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda said the BJP created lakhs of fake ration cards to garner votes in the elections. Hooda also extended his heartfelt New Year wishes to all the people of the country and the state.

“According to the figures, the number of ration cards was 11,09,865 in 2020-21, which increased to 26,40,475 in 2022-23 and 51,96,380 in 2024. Similarly, the number of beneficiaries increased from 52,40,111 to 2,13,00,000. This means that the BJP declared 80 percent people of Haryana as BPL (Below Poverty Line),” he said.

“However, after the elections, 41 lakh ration cards were cancelled across the country, with the highest number of cancellations (13,43,474) in Haryana. This has stopped the ration supply for more than 70 lakh people. The BJP clearly cheated the public to get votes. The BJP also cheated women in a similar manner. They promised to give Rs. 2100 per month to all 85 lakh women in Haryana, but now they are only talking about giving this amount to 5 lakh women,” he added.

Addressing a press conference at his residence in Rohtak, Former CM Hooda also mentioned the injustice being done to Haryana youth in recruitments. He said the BJP government is deliberately excluding people from Haryana from recruitments.

“In the Haryana Power Utilities (HPU) Assistant Engineer recruitment, only 29 out of 214 candidates in the General category were from Haryana. In the HPSC English Assistant Professor recruitment, the selection of youth from Haryana was less than 8 percent. Other examples include: Assistant Professor Political Science: 11 out of 18 were from outside Haryana,” he pointed out.

He said that in the SDO Electrical recruitment, this government once appointed 78 out of 80 candidates from outside the state. “When these recruitments were conducted again, 77 out of 99 positions were filled by candidates from outside the state. In the Lecturer Group-B Technical Education recruitment, 103 out of 157 positions were filled by outsiders,” he said.

He added that in the HCS recruitment, one out of three positions went to an outsider, in the DHO recruitment, 12 out of 16 positions, and in the BDPO recruitment, 4 out of 7 positions were filled by people from outside the state.

Furthermore, positions are deliberately kept vacant in HPSC recruitments. Only 151 candidates were called for interviews for 613 posts of English Assistant Professor. This is a blatant attack on the rights of the youth of Haryana.

On the issue of farmers, Hooda said MSP is not being given for any crop, while the government falsely claims to provide MSP for 24 crops. He stated that the government rate for paddy is Rs 2389 per quintal, but it was bought from farmers at Rs 1500-2000. Bajra was sold at Rs 1850-1900 against the MSP of Rs 2250. Crops like moong and cotton were also not sold at MSP.

Expressing deep anger over the gang-rape incident in Faridabad, the Leader of the Opposition said this incident is shameful and condemnable. This proves that there is virtually no law and order in Haryana. According to the Central Government's Social Progress Index, Haryana is the most unsafe state.

On the economy, he said that in NITI Aayog's Fiscal Health Index, Haryana ranks 14th among 18 states. The Debt-to-GSDP ratio is more than 31%, today the state's debt has exceeded Rs 5 lakh crore, and the state is trapped in a debt cycle. Far from attracting investment, this government is merely a government of event management, engaging in extensive propaganda. They had a "Ease of Doing Business" initiative, which they heavily promoted.

“Despite this, the industrial sector in Haryana is continuously declining. For the last 5 years, there has been a 12.2% decline in the industrial sector of Haryana. The Reserve Bank of India, citing data from the annual industry survey released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, has reported that 1446 factories in Haryana have either closed down or relocated since 2018-19,” he added.

Hooda said that the BJP government has ruined sports infrastructure in the state. “Two sportspersons have already lost their lives due to the dilapidated condition of the stadiums. The Congress government had built world-class infrastructure, implemented a sports policy, and provided cash rewards and appointments to DSP posts. The government also started sports talent hunts and sports academies, but the BJP government shut them down,” he said.

On the Aravalli issue, Former CM welcomed the Supreme Court's suo-motu cognizance of the matter. He said the issue was raised in the Assembly, but the government evaded discussion. “The Forest Survey report states that the destruction of the Aravalli range will affect Haryana the most. The Aravalli range is the lungs of North India, providing life to the entire region,” he pointed out.