<p>Former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy came down hard on the state government for demanding tractor and other vehicle owners to return their Below Poverty Line (BPL) ration cards, here on Sunday.</p>.<p>Terming the decision as an ‘indication of stupidity’, he alleged that the decision showed that the state government appeared keen to harass and persecute farmers.</p>.<p>During a review meeting of Food and Civil Supplies department held last week, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa had threatened to initiate legal action if government employees and owners of tractors and other vehicles did not return their BPL cards.</p>.<p>“The government, which has demanded farmers to return their BPL cards, have made tractors, (and) vehicles as a criteria. Isn’t the government encouraging scientific farming, (and) tractor purchase. Is it not stupid to ask a farmer to purchase a tractor and then use it as a criteria to rob him of the BPL card?” he said.</p>.<p>Though true beneficiaries should get benefits, it should not be a reason to hurt farmers. “There are several shortcomings in the public distribution system, (and) vested interests. This should be abolished first,”<br />he said.</p>.<p>The government, before threatening to strip farmers of BPL cards, should realise that the card is the basis for the several amenities provided by the government, the JD(S) leader added.</p>
<p>Former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy came down hard on the state government for demanding tractor and other vehicle owners to return their Below Poverty Line (BPL) ration cards, here on Sunday.</p>.<p>Terming the decision as an ‘indication of stupidity’, he alleged that the decision showed that the state government appeared keen to harass and persecute farmers.</p>.<p>During a review meeting of Food and Civil Supplies department held last week, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa had threatened to initiate legal action if government employees and owners of tractors and other vehicles did not return their BPL cards.</p>.<p>“The government, which has demanded farmers to return their BPL cards, have made tractors, (and) vehicles as a criteria. Isn’t the government encouraging scientific farming, (and) tractor purchase. Is it not stupid to ask a farmer to purchase a tractor and then use it as a criteria to rob him of the BPL card?” he said.</p>.<p>Though true beneficiaries should get benefits, it should not be a reason to hurt farmers. “There are several shortcomings in the public distribution system, (and) vested interests. This should be abolished first,”<br />he said.</p>.<p>The government, before threatening to strip farmers of BPL cards, should realise that the card is the basis for the several amenities provided by the government, the JD(S) leader added.</p>
