Daijiworld Media Network - Belagavi (SP)

Belagavi, Feb 15: Food and civil supplies minister Umesh Katti has said that people having large landholdings, and those who have television sets, bikes and refrigerators at their homes will not be eligible for BPL ration cards. The statement has stirred a hornet's nest. Many are pointing out that television sets and bikes that have become things of necessity are now found in the houses of even poor families. They have started questioning how far is the minister justified in making such statements.

Speaking at Belagavi, Katti had said that to be eligible for BPL benefits, the beneficiaries should not be holding over five acres of land, they should not own fridges, bikes and televiision sets, and that government and quasi-government officials and those having annual income of over Rs 1.2 lac are ineligible to get BPL cards.

He had asked those people who are ineligible but are holding the cards to return them to the government. "Time till March 31 has been given for returning such illegal cards. A survey will be conducted for identifying illegal BPL cards to cancel them," he had stated.

Many have warned the government that if it undertakes such drastic measures, it will face strong reaction. When his response was sought by the media, Katti refused to respond to questions.

Leaders of the opposition have expressed resentment at Katti's statement. Some leaders of his own party have also criticised Katti's statement. Former food and civil supplies minister, U T Khader, said that providing food is the duty of the government and stressed that it is wrong to frame rules and cancel the cards. BJP leader, Somashekhar, also said that even the poor buy bikes and television sets by raising loans and it is improper to cancel such cards.