Former CM Hooda alleges the BJP government of snatching away support of the elderly in their old age

Chandigarh, February 13, 2026: Former Haryana Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda strongly objected to the BJP government's decision to cut old age pensions. He said the BJP is so intoxicated by power in its third term in power, that it is 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 have been cut.

Talking to media persons, the former Chief Minister said that according to central government data, votes were taken in the Haryana Assembly elections and now more than 14 lakh ration cards have been cut, the highest in the country. Similarly, the pensions of thousands of elderly people are also being cut.

Hooda said while the elderly are repeatedly pleading at government offices to have their pensions reinstated, the arrogant government claims that no elderly pension has been cut. This is like adding insult to injury.

He said that the Congress government increased the old-age pension from ₹300 to ₹1,500, a five-fold (400%) increase. Meanwhile, the BJP government has only increased it by ₹2 (100%) in 11 years, while inflation has risen three to four times. Not only this, during the Congress regime, there was no obstruction to the old age pension system like the family ID system created by the BJP for determining the income of the elderly.

“The Congress party used to provide an old-age Samman Allowance by linking the old-age pension to the respect of the elderly, but now the Samman Allowance has been presented as a favour that the government is bestowing on the elderly. The government has complete control over the Family ID. Therefore, the government can simply show an increase in anyone's income and cut their pension overnight,” he said.

The Haryana Leader of Opposition alleged the BJP government has wronged every section of society, from farmers to employees, poor laborers to housewives, Dalits and backward classes to upper castes, schoolchildren to the elderly. “Before the elections, this government issued ration cards for millions of people and secured their votes. However, upon winning the elections, it blindly began cutting off ration cards and pensions even for poor families,” he said.

Hooda said that Congress will strongly raise this issue in the upcoming budget session and will not allow this government to take away the support of the elderly under any circumstances. “Old-age pension is our symbol of our respect to the elderly in our society, it is not a source of income,” he added.