Umesh V Katti, who is Karnataka’s food and supplies minister has said BPL (below poverty line) card owners, who own televisions, refrigerators, two-wheelers and other such products should surrender them by March 31 in order to receive the benefits of BPL cards, Hindustan Times reported.

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In addition to the list of those items, he added that, “there are parameters for possessing a BPL card. They should not have more than five acres of land, motorcycle, TV or fridge,” the minister said in Belagavi, about 500 kilometres away from Bengaluru.

There are many such disqualifications such as earning an income of more than Rs1.2 lakh per year. The minister added that those who do not qualify on these parameters should return their cards or face action. The minister added that officials will carry out surveys to check if people or families holding BPL card are legal or not. Katti later clarified that he was only following the rules formed by the previous government.

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“The statements made by a minister of the BJP is anti-people. This makes it clear that the BJP government does not understand the plight of the people,” UT Khader, Congress legislator and former food and civil supplies minister, said on the matter.