Chairman for National Commission for Backward Classes
In office
2 December 2022 – 18 March 2026
Preceded by Bhagwan Lal Sahani
Succeeded by Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti
Minister of State, for Home Affairs
In office
5 July 2016 – 30 May 2019
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Minister Rajnath Singh
Preceded by Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhary
Succeeded by G Kishan Reddy
Nityanand Rai
MoS for Chemicals & Fertilizers
In office
9 November 2014 – 5 July 2016
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Minister Ananth Kumar
Preceded by Nihalchand
Succeeded by Mansukh Mandaviya
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
In office
16 May 2004 – 23 May 2019
Preceded by Naresh Puglia
Succeeded by Suresh Dhanorkar
Constituency Chandrapur Lok Sabha constituency
In office
10 May 1996 – 28 February 1998
Preceded by Shantaram Potdukhe
Succeeded by Naresh Puglia
Constituency Chandrapur Lok Sabha constituency
Member of Maharashtra Legislative Council
In office
1994–1996
Constituency elected by Legislative Assembly members
Personal details
Born Hansraj Gangaram Ahir
11 November 1954 (age 71)
Nanded, Bombay State, India
Spouse Lata Ahir (m. 1990)
Children Raghuveer, Shyamal, Sanjivani Ahir
Source:
Hansraj Ahir is an Indian politician and former Chairman of the National Commission for Backward classes.[1] He is a former Union Minister of State for Home Affairs and Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers in the First Modi Ministry. He was the former member of the 16th Lok Sabha in India.[2][3][4] He was member of 11th Lok Sabha, 14th Lok Sabha, 15th Lok Sabha.[5] He is famous for exposing Coal Mining Scam specially pouni-3 in WCL.
Ahir frequently requested details of coal mining to Prime Minister of India office but he didn't succeed[citation needed]. Finally he (along with Prakash Javadekar) requested Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) for an inquiry. Based on this, CVC ordered a CBI inquiry.[6][7]
He has been honoured with Sansad Ratna Award in 2010, 2011,[8] 2012,[8] 2013[9] and 2014.[8]
Political career
He represented the Chandrapur constituency of Maharashtra 4th time from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He had been re-elected from the Chandrapur Lok Sabha Constituency as a member of the 15th Lok Sabha, the results of which were declared on 16 May 2009.[10] In the 14th Lok Sabha, then Speaker Somnath Chatterjee had hailed Hansraj Gangaram Ahir, member of BJP from Chandrapur in Maharashtra as role model for MPs[citation needed]. Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam told Hansraj Ahir is no.1 Member of parliament and role model MP for youth.
Achievements
Prime Point Foundation (PPF) has rated BJP MP from Chandrapur, Hansraj Ahir as the best parliamentarian for introduction of 24 private bills out of a total of 288 bills that were introduced so far in the 15th Lok Sabha and Shri Ahir was felicitated with Sansad Ratna Award.[11] Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave him a position in his cabinet as the Minister of State for Chemical & Fertilizers.
Political career
Positions held
In Parliament
2004: Member, Committee on Coal & Steel
2004: Member, Committee on Food Management in Parliament House Complex
2004: Member, Committee on Agriculture
2 Jan. 2006: Member, Joint Parliamentary Committee on Wakf
5 Aug. 2007: Member, Standing Committee on Coal and Steel
31 Aug. 2009: Member, Committee on Coal and Steel
23 Sep. 2009: Member, Committee on Privileges
15 Mar. 2010: Member, Railway Convention Committee
1 May 2013: Member, Committee on Public Undertakings
3 May 2013: Member, Committee on Welfare of Other Backward Classes (OBCs)
13 June 2014: onwards Member, Business Advisory Committee
1 Sep. 2014 - 9 Nov. 2014: Chairperson, Standing Committee on Coal and Steel [12]
Tobacco Board;
Panchayati Raj Samiti;
Rojgar Hami Yojana;
Bhatkya Vimukta Jati Ashram Shala Samiti
Within BJP
District President: Chandrapur (1991 to....)
Legislative
Member, Maharashtra Legislative Council - 1994 to 1996[12]
1996: First Elected to 11th Lok Sabha
2004: Re-elected to 14th Lok Sabha (2nd term)
2009: Re-elected to 15th Lok Sabha (3rd term)
2014: Re-elected to 16th Lok Sabha (4th term)
2019 Lost the Loksabha election to Balu (Suresh) Dhanorkar of Congress