Siddaramaiah cited repeated assurances that notices issued to farmers over Waqf land will be withdrawn at the earliest. He also charged that BJP has an ulterior motive and doesn't care about farmers' well-being.
Published Nov 04, 2024 | 2:07 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 04, 2024 | 5:38 PM
Karnataka BJP demands Warf & Housing minister resigns
BJP in Karnataka staged a state-wide protest against the Congress government on Monday, 4 November over notices served to farmers claiming Waqf property.
The state-wide protest is part of BJP’s continued opposition to the Waqf Board’s actions, despite assurances from CM Siddaramaiah and his Cabinet ministers that the notices issued to farmers would be withdrawn at the earliest.
Condemning the notices sent by the state Revenue Department regarding the Waqf Board’s claims, the BJP staged protests in several district headquarters including in Ballari, Vijayapura, Koppal, Davanagere and Mysuru. Party workers also demanded the resignation of the minister for Waqf and Housing, BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan over the row.
Pontiffs from various mutts’, who were served such notices, have also joined the protesting BJP and farmers in the state.
Meanwhile, a BJP delegation led by former Deputy CM and Chitradurga MP Govind Karjol submitted its report on the Waqf land row in Vijayapura to the party’s state president BY Vijayendra at Ballari.
Vijayendra had set up a delegation under the leadership of Karjol after the Vijayapura district administration served notices to around 1,200 farmers over claiming their land as Waqf property.
The delegation led by Govind Karjol also met farmers and pontiffs of mutts which have received notices claiming Waqf land in Vijayapura.
#Karnataka: @BJP4Karnataka delegation led by former Deputy CM and Chitradurga MP Govind Karjol submits report on Vijayapura’s Waqf land row to the party’s state president at #Ballari.
After the Vijayapura District Administration served notices to around 1,200 farmers over… pic.twitter.com/v1FLBhUnhI
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) November 4, 2024
Siddaramaiah had, on Sunday, 3 November shared a old video of former CM and BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai in which he was seen saying that Waqf property belongs to Allah.
Apparently addressing the Muslim community, Bommai can be seen saying “Wakf property belongs to Allah, and those who encroached on it will answer to Him if they don’t return every inch.”
Criticising BJP leaders for their alleged hypocrisy, Karnataka CM charged that they “stir up communal sentiments when it benefits them and play innocent” when it suits them.
Responding to the CM’s allegations, Bommai criticised minister for Waqf stating: “Zameer Ahmed is spreading false propaganda by circulating an old video of mine, alleging that I directed the Waqf Board to seize farmers’ lands. I was addressing a Waqf event, not a Waqf Board meeting.”
Citing his reasons for the statement while addressing media persons at Hubbali, he clarified: “My statements were based on the Anwar Manippady committee’s report, which highlights alleged encroachments on Waqf properties and not on the ongoing farmers’ row. We have not issued any notices to farmers nor seized their land.”
As the state-wide protest continued, Karnataka Leader of Opposition (LoP) R Ashoka wrote to Union minister Amit Shah over the row involving state Waqf Board.
In the letter, Ashoka highlighted concerns expressed by farmers over receiving notices from the Revenue Department on Waqf Board’s ownership claims.
He also wrote to Jagadambika Pal, Chairperson of Joint Parliamentary Committee on Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 about the state Waqf Board’s alleged atrocities against farmers.
LoP urged Amit Shah to issue instructions to Karnataka Chief Secretary that all registrations and land transactions connected to the Board are immediately stopped.
Taking to X to comment on 3 November, a day before the protest, CM Siddaramaiah had asked people of Karnataka to see through the saffron party’s true intentions. He charged that BJP’s motives are purely political without any genuine interest in farmers’ welfare.
Referring to similar notices issued regarding Waqf properties during previous BJP regimes, the CM said that it is a standard procedure to send such notices.
He also charged that the Congress government’s guarantee schemes have rattled the BJP, which is why it is trying to financially undermine the state and its progress.
He further wrote, “BJP’s true nature is to stoke communal strife for political gain. This protest has no intention of safeguarding farmers’ interests; instead, it threatens the harmony of Karnataka.”
I urge the people of Karnataka to see through the @BJP4Karnataka’s true intentions. Even after our government ordered the immediate withdrawal of notices issued to farmers over Wakf property issues, BJP leaders persist in their protests. Their motives are purely political, with…
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) November 3, 2024
The Waqf Board is believed to be the third-largest landholder in the country, after the Indian Armed Forces and Indian Railways, reportedly controlling over 8.5 lakh pieces of properties across India.
The Waqf Board is a crucial statutory body in India, established under the Waqf Act of 1995 to regulate and manage properties associated with mosques and other Islamic institutions. These properties are dedicated by individuals for religious or charitable purposes within the Islamic community, with income generated intended to support education, healthcare, and community welfare.
Critics of the Waqf Board, including BJP, have been arguing that the Waqf Act has been weaponised to unjustly seize land, undermining principles of secularism and equality. They have also called for the Act to be repealed, raising concerns about the legal powers it grants the Waqf Board.
(Edited by Neena with inputs from Mahesh M Goudar)
