BPL card cancellation to be limited to govt. staff, tax payers

Thu Nov 21 01:03:00 UTC 2024: ## Karnataka CM Orders Halt to BPL Card Cancellations Amidst BJP Protest Threats

**Bengaluru, November 21, 2024** – Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has ordered a halt to the cancellation of Below Poverty Line (BPL) cards, except for those held by government employees and individuals filing income tax returns. This follows threats from the BJP to protest the government’s initiative to remove “ineligible” families from the BPL list.

Earlier, the BJP had warned of protests, including the potential occupation of government offices, if the cards of low-income families were not reinstated. In response, CM Siddaramaiah directed officials to immediately restore any BPL cards wrongly cancelled outside the specified categories of government employees and tax filers. He also warned of disciplinary action against officials responsible for the wrongful cancellation of cards belonging to genuinely poor families. The CM’s intervention aims to de-escalate tensions and ensure that only those deemed ineligible according to the established criteria are removed from the BPL program.