Selja Kumari

Selja Kumari
File:Selja - Kolkata 2011-11-05 6516 Cropped.JPG Kumari Selja in 2011
Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment
In office May 2009 – May 2014
Preceded by	Meira Kumar
Succeeded by	Thawar Chand Gehlot
Constituency	Ambala
Personal details
Born	(1962-09-24) 24 September 1962 Chandigarh
Political party	Indian National Congress
Spouse(s)	Unmarried
Residence	Hissar, Haryana
Religion	Hinduism
As of 8 January, 2015

Selja Kumari (born 24 September 1962) is a member of the 15th Lok Sabha of India as a member of the Indian National Congress (INC) political party. She was the cabinet minister at the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in the United Progressive Alliance Government during the 15th Lok Sabha. She resigned in January 2014.

Early life

Selja Kumari was born in Chandigarh to the Dalit leader Chaudhary Dalbir Singh. She studied at the Convent of Jesus and Mary, New Delhi and did her M.A. and M.Phil. from Panjab University.

Political career

She began her political career in the Mahila Congress becoming its President in 1990. One of the senior most dalit leaders within the Congress party, she was elected to the 10th Lok Sabha in 1991 from Sirsa in Haryana. She was Union Minister of State for Education and Culture in the Narasimha Rao-led Congress government. Despite the Congress debacle in Haryana in 1996, she was re-elected to the 11th Lok Sabha.

File:Kumari Selja Presenting Certificate of Commendation.jpg

Kumari Selja Presenting Certificate of Commendation to Dr. G. Dewan on First Chandigarh Crafts Mela

In 2004, she was elected to the Lok Sabha representing the Ambala constituency of Haryana. She was Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation in the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government.On 16 May 2009, she was once again re-elected from the same constituency, making this her second consecutive victory from Ambala and was given an elevation to Cabinet rank holding portfolios of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation and Culture.

Accusation

In March 2011, Union Tourism Minister Kumari Selja has been issued notices by the Punjab and Haryana High Court over a petition that has accused her of "forgery, criminal intimidation, fabrication and hatching a criminal conspiracy". The petitioner, advocate B S Chahar, has alleged that Selja, who was "instrumental in instigating leaders and members of the Balmiki community against Jat leaders in Mirchpur case", tried to save herself from a litigation by pressurising the undertrials and forcing them to sign "blank and non judicial papers".

External links

• Official biographical sketch in Parliament of India website

Political offices
Preceded by unknown	Minister of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation 2009 - present	Incumbent
Preceded by unknown	Minister of Tourism unknown	Incumbent