In response to escalating concerns over Waqf land designations in Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has assured farmers that their lands will remain secure and untouched, despite errors that marked certain properties as Waqf land. The controversy emerged after farmers in Vijayapura and nearby districts reported receiving eviction notices. Siddaramaiah has ordered the retraction of these notices, which were issued during the BJP’s previous term, and formed a task force to clarify land ownership.
Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda and Waqf Minister Zameer Khan joined Siddaramaiah in reinforcing the commitment to protect farmers’ rights. They confirmed that a gazette error, marking over 1,200 acres in Vijayapura as Waqf property, would be rectified and that only a small fraction—around 11 acres—is genuinely designated as Waqf land.
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MB Patil, Karnataka’s District In-Charge Minister for Vijayapura, has promised transparency and reassured farmers that no private land will be affected. He accused the BJP of misrepresenting the situation for political gains, linking it to what he called a “fake pro-Hindutva” narrative. Patil warned that the current government would not tolerate actions that could stir communal divides and emphasized that the task force would actively correct any inconsistencies in land records.
The BJP, on the other hand, has taken a hard stance. Party leaders, including BJP state president BY Vijayendra and Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, have condemned the Congress-led government’s handling of the situation, calling it a politically motivated “appeasement” tactic. Vijayendra, citing ongoing investigations by a BJP fact-finding committee, warned of potential widespread protests if farmers’ rights were not respected. He argued that ancestral lands should not be converted into Waqf property without due process and transparency, reiterating the BJP’s support for affected farmers.
The dispute has triggered broader conversations on land ownership rights and calls for reform in managing Waqf properties in Karnataka. With farmers threatening protests, the Karnataka government faces mounting pressure to resolve the matter promptly and fairly to prevent further unrest in the state.
(Inputs from the Agencies)
