The ongoing controversy over the cancellation of Below Poverty Line (BPL) cards in Karnataka has sparked outrage among opposition leaders, with BJP MLC C.T. Ravi questioning the intent behind the state government’s actions. Ravi’s remarks reflect growing discontent over the sudden changes in the distribution of welfare benefits, raising concerns over the government’s fairness and transparency.
Speaking to the media in Chikkamagaluru, C.T. Ravi posed pointed questions to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah: “If the BPL cards are being cancelled without due process and if proved to be poors, will the CM resign? Will he dismiss the officers responsible for this mess? How many cards will be cancelled if the law is strictly followed?” Ravi also accused the government of using BPL cards as a political tool, suggesting that in some regions, MLAs were deliberately keeping the cards for their vote banks. “The cards are being kept with officials who support your party. These are the same officials who will ensure that the cards remain with voters of certain castes and communities. Isn’t this unfair?” Ravi said, criticizing the government for allegedly manipulating the welfare system for political gain.
JDS alleges govt bankrupt
https:/twitterx.com/CTRavi_BJP/status/1858421974390710315
Echoing similar sentiments, JDS state spokesperson Venkanagouda Govinda Gowdra condemned the government’s move to transfer BPL cardholders to Above Poverty Line (APL) status, calling it “an unjustified assault on the poor.” Speaking to the press in Gadag, Gowdra stated, “It is absolutely condemnable that the state government is using the excuse of revising BPL beneficiaries to push deserving families out of the system. The Congress, in its desperation, seems to have forgotten its commitment to the poor.” Gowda further criticized the government’s approach, calling it “madness” to disqualify BPL cardholders based merely on superficial criteria such as the possession of a PAN card. He urged the government to conduct a door-to-door survey to ensure that no genuinely deserving family is left out of the benefits.
Adding fuel to the fire, Gowda warned, “The JDS will not remain silent if the government continues to sit in their offices and make decisions without proper ground-level verification.”
Both the BJP and JDS have accused the Congress-led state government of using the revision of BPL cards as a pretext to curb its welfare schemes and avoid fulfilling its electoral promises, especially to the poor and marginalized sections of society. C.T. Ravi, in his sharp critique, alleged that the Congress government was in a “financial mess” and, in a bid to cut costs, was trying to backtrack on the guarantees and subsidies it promised to the people during elections.
As the political battle over the BPL card issue intensifies, one thing is clear: the state government’s decision has become a political flashpoint, and the poor, who were supposed to benefit from these schemes, may be the real losers in this game of politics. The opposition parties have vowed to continue their fight until the government revokes the decision and ensures that all deserving families receive the benefits they are entitled to.
“The state government has implemented the Guarantee Scheme without any proper planning. Now, failing to progress with the Anna Bhagya scheme, the government is taking steps to cancel BPL cards,” alleged Member of Parliament Jagadish Shettar.
Speaking to reporters, Shettar criticised the government for attempting to cover up its failures by canceling BPL cards, thus targeting the poor. “After coming to power, the government has only now realized that there are ineligible cards. This move to cancel BPL cards after all elections are over signals the end of the Guarantee Scheme,” Shettar added.
He also accused the Congress government of trying to cover up the controversy surrounding the Valmiki and MUDA scams, among others, by making false accusations against the BJP. “The Congress government has started spreading lies, accusing the BJP of luring legislators with bribes. If the government has any proof of this, it should release the documents. This kind of diversionary tactic does not reflect well on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah,” Shettar said.
He further pointed out that the government’s recent focus on canceling BPL cards, after the elections are concluded, appears to be a strategy to halt the Guarantee Scheme, signaling the government’s failure to deliver on its promises to the poor.
BJP President BY Vijayendra criticizes state government
BJP State President B.Y. Vijayendra sharply criticized the Karnataka state government for its handling of the BPL card cancellations and the Guarantee schemes during a media interaction. He accused the state government of unjustly canceling BPL cards without any proper scientific basis.
Vijayendra pointed out that under the National Food Security Act, the central government contributes 92.5% of the assistance, while the state government only contributes 7.5%. “On what grounds is the state government canceling BPL cards? What criteria were used to cancel 11.5 lakh BPL cards? This decision is illogical and unscientific,” Vijayendra said.
He emphasized that it is acceptable to cancel ineligible BPL cards, but it is completely wrong to cancel cards of eligible beneficiaries. “The Chief Minister is trying to hit two birds with one stone. By canceling BPL cards based on PAN card details, the government is trying to save money under the ‘Griha Lakshmi’ scheme. This is not fair to the people who need the support,” he added.
Vijayendra also slammed the Chief Minister for his failure to implement the Guarantee schemes effectively. “The entire state is crying for the benefits of the Guarantee schemes, but the Chief Minister has shown his incompetence. He has failed to mobilize funds for these schemes and continues to blame the central government to cover his own failures. The state government is pushing farmers and the poor to the streets,” he charged.
ಬಿಪಿಎಲ್ ಪಡಿತರ ಚೀಟಿಗಳನ್ನು ರದ್ದು ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿರುವ ರಾಜ್ಯದ ಜನವಿರೋಧಿ @INCKarnataka ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ನಡೆ ಗಮನಿಸಿದರೆ ಬಡವರ ಹೊಟ್ಟೆಯ ಮೇಲೆ 'ಬರೆ’ ಎಳೆಯುತ್ತಿರುವುದು ಸುಸ್ಪಷ್ಟವಾಗುತ್ತಿದೆ.
ಮಾನದಂಡಗಳ ನೆಪವೊಡ್ಡಿ ನಾಡಿನ 11 ಲಕ್ಷಕ್ಕೂ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಕುಟುಂಬಗಳ ಬಿಪಿಎಲ್ ಕಾರ್ಡುಗಳನ್ನು ರದ್ದು ಮಾಡಿ ಅನ್ನಭಾಗ್ಯ ಯೋಜನೆಯ ಜತೆಗೆ ಗೃಹಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ… pic.twitter.com/YX16WOkIHZ
— Vijayendra Yediyurappa (@BYVijayendra) November 21, 2024
People are fed up with this government he said, criticizing the Chief Minister for his repeated failures. “The CM has presented 15 budgets and yet continues to be an ineffective leader. If the state government had acted responsibly, these issues wouldn’t have arisen,” Vijayendra said.
On the issue of funding cuts to banks under the NABARD scheme, Vijayendra clarified that not only Karnataka but also other states had experienced similar reductions, based on set criteria. He accused the state government of using these issues to deflect attention from its own failures. “The state’s decision to cancel BPL cards is nothing but a deceptive drama,” he concluded, further criticizing the government’s approach.
He also warned that the state BJP would organise statewide agitation ahainst cancelling BPL cards of eligible poors by government.
