DK Shivakumar defends BPL card review, slams Opposition

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar accused the Opposition of nitpicking and claimed that the Congress has always been committed to pro-poor policies.
Responding to criticism over recent government decisions to review Below Poverty Line (BPL) cards, he defended the Congress’s track record while lashing out at the BJP and JD(S).
“It was the Congress, not the BJP, that implemented schemes like ration cards, pensions, and the Ashraya scheme. The BJP is only trying to find stones in the curd,” he remarked during a press briefing at the KPCC office.
Shivakumar said: “Some economically well-off individuals are holding BPL cards. We are simply reviewing such cases based on the Centre’s guidelines. If cards have been wrongly cancelled, they will be restored, as directed by the Chief Minister.” He accused the BJP and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy of running out of issues to raise.
When asked about Kumaraswamy’s claims that the state’s financial situation had worsened, Shivakumar hit back: “What did Kumaraswamy do when he was in power? We are bringing in investments and improving the state’s finances. Let him list the industries he brought to Karnataka during his tenure as Union Minister.”
The clarification came after the Opposition parties called the move an effort to reduce the financial stress on Karnataka stemming from the guarantee schemes.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, too, was firm in asserting that no BPL card would be cancelled outright. “Only the cards held by ineligible individuals will be revoked. We are committed to ensuring that no eligible person is deprived of their rightful benefits,” Siddaramaiah assured.