Bengaluru FC rope in Halicharan Narzary on three-year contract
Bengaluru (PTI): Bengaluru FC have inked a three-year contract with midfielder Halicharan Narzary ahead of the upcoming Indian Super League, the Blues announced on Wednesday.
Narzary, who joined Hyderabad FC in 2020, has previously turned out for FC Goa, NorthEast United FC, Kerala Blasters FC and Chennaiyin FC in the ISL.
"I'm excited to join Bengaluru FC, although I am sure that it will be a lot of hard work for me to take my place in the team," said Narzary, after completing the formalities on his deal.
"My target is to reach as many finals as possible and give everything I can for this badge. I have decided to move to BFC as it's one of the best clubs in India in my opinion, and I want to learn as much as I can from this experience."
Having started his career as a teenager at Pailan Arrows (now Indian Arrows) in 2010, Narzary has also turned out for I-League clubs DSK Shivajians FC and Dempo SC.
The 29-year-old represented India at the U19 and U23 levels, and has 27 caps for the senior national team.
"Halicharan is a hardworking and versatile player with a lot of experience in the ISL and we're delighted to be able to sign him. He's been a very important player in a successful period at Hyderabad FC over the last few years and adds competition for places within our team. With the amount of quality that he brings into our squad, we see him as a valuable addition," said Blues' boss Simon Grayson.
Narzary has 103 ISL appearances across nine seasons, and claimed six assists in his most recent campaign, the second highest of any Indian.
The winger was part of Hyderabad FC's title-winning 2021-22 campaign, and was runner-up in the Super Cup with Chennaiyin FC in 2019.
The club has also extended the contracts of Australian defender Aleksandar Jovanovic and midfielder Suresh Wangjam.
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Karnataka identifies 22.63 lakh ineligible BPL cardholders: Sources; opposition protests
Bengaluru/Kolar, Nov 20: The Karnataka government has identified 22.63 lakh ineligible Below Poverty Line (BPL) cardholders in the state, with plans to revise the list, official sources said on Wednesday.
A survey conducted in August this year uncovered 22,62,482 ineligible BPL cardholders. The government is now considering cancelling these cards, triggering concerns about the withdrawal of key welfare benefits for numerous families.
These include the distribution of 10 kg of food grains per family member per month under the Anna Bhagya scheme and the Rs 2,000 monthly allowance provided to women heads of BPL families under the Congress-led government’s Gruha Lakshmi scheme.
Defending the move, Karnataka’s Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs Minister K H Muniyappa stated that southern states typically do not have more than 50 per cent of their population categorised as BPL cardholders.
ALSO READ: Only ineligible BPL cards will be weeded out, no impact on eligible cardholders: CM Siddaramaiah
"In Karnataka, the second-highest tax revenue-generating state after Maharashtra, it is unrealistic to have 75-80 per cent of the population listed as BPL. Therefore, we must cancel these cards," Muniyappa said, adding that the government is not eliminating the cards but reclassifying them as Above Poverty Line (APL) cards.
According to Muniyappa, individuals holding government jobs, paying income tax, or earning an annual income above Rs 1.2 lakh are not eligible for BPL cards.
The opposition BJP seized the issue, criticising the Congress-led government.
Leaders including Opposition Leader R Ashoka, former Deputy Chief Minister C N Ashwath Narayan, and K Gopalaiah led a march in Bengaluru, visiting affected BPL families and staging protests against the decision.
A Bengaluru-based BPL cardholder expressed concern after discovering that her ration card had been canceled during a visit to a government-run ration shop. She feared her newborn daughter would lose access to benefits under the Bhagya Lakshmi scheme, aimed at reducing female foeticide, supporting education, and ensuring financial empowerment for girls.
The government's move has sparked widespread debate, with political and public reactions continuing to unfold.
