Only ineligible persons will lose BPL cards, says Karnataka Chief Minister

A reported move by the State government to take away Below Poverty Line (BPL) cards from ineligible persons took a political twist on Sunday, with the Opposition parties terming this an effort to reduce the financial burden owing due to the guarantee schemes.

A reported move by the State government to take away Below Poverty Line (BPL) cards from ineligible persons took a political twist on Sunday, with the Opposition parties terming this an effort to reduce Karnataka’s financial burden stemming from the guarantee schemes.

Replying to such charges, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah made it clear that poor and genuine beneficiaries will not be affected as only ineligible persons will lose the BPL cards.

Speaking to presspersons in Bagalkot, the Chief Minister denied allegations that the government had issued orders for the cancellation of BPL cards of eligible beneficiaries.

“We are taking steps to weed out ineligible persons from the BPL card beneficiaries. This will help the eligible beneficiaries get all the benefits. We have found that several government employees and taxpayers have obtained BPL cards and have not returned them despite several appeals,” he said.

“The Department of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs is examining a proposal to urge all ineligible persons to return cards or to cancel them. But no final decision has been taken,” he added.

“I want to clarify that while steps will be taken to cancel the BPL cards of ineligible persons, the cards of eligible beneficiaries will stay. Our only concern is that the deserving should not be deprived of benefits and that government benefits should not be abused by the undeserving,” he noted.

Meanwhile, Janata Dal (Secular) leader and Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy alleged that the government was converting 11 lakh BPL cards into Above Poverty Line (APL) cards, and snatching food from 11 lakh families.