BENGALURU: BJP leader and Leader of Opposition Karnataka Assembly R Ashoka has urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Jagadambika Pal to instruct Chief Secretary of Karnataka to immediately stop all registrations and land transactions involving Waqf Board in Karnataka alleging recent atrocities by Karnataka Waqf Board on farmers.
In a letter dated November 2 to Home Minister Amit Shah, R Ashoka said, “In Karnataka, hasty attempts are being made to register lands claimed by Waqf Board perhaps in anticipation of the amendment that Joint Parliamentary Committee could bring to the Waqf Act. As part of this pre-emptive attempt the state government and Waqf board have reportedly begun altering revenue records, transferring ownership of farmers’ lands to the Waqf. This hurried whitewashing and registering of unjust claims of land to Waqf Boards will deprive thousands of farmers and poor people of Karnataka of their just and ancestral property rights.”
He further said that while this issue came to light after notices were saved to hundreds of farmers claiming about 15,000 acres of land Vijayapura district, it is alleged that across each district of Karnataka, approximately 10,000 acres of land are reportedly being claimed by the Waqf in this clandestine manner.
“Additionally, the Waqf board is also claiming lands belonging to temples, Mutts and other religious organizations. It is shocking that even grave yards belonging to Hindu community are being claimed as Waqf Properties. The 13th century Virakta Mutt’s 1.28 acres land in Sindagi, the historical Someshwara temple in Vijayapura, the Beeradevara temple in Kalaburgi and several other temples across Karnataka are reportedly being claimed by the Waqf board,” he further said.
He further said that these hasty attempts to register properties claimed by Waqf board has created insecurity and panic among people and has erupted violence in Haveri district.
“In the light of these incidents, I urge you to instruct the Chief Secretary of the Government of Karnataka to immediately stop all land registrations to Waqf Board until the proceedings of the JPC is complete,” he further added.
Earlier, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Tejasvi Surya had accused the Waqf Board of encroaching on thousands of acres of farmers’ lands with the support of the Karnataka government.
Speaking to ANI, Surya stated, “There have been multiple press conferences and videos in the public domain where the Minister himself has admitted that these Waqf adalats are being conducted under the Chief Minister’s instructions. This is a grave matter, where thousands of acres of farmers’ lands are being encroached upon by the Waqf Board with the active support and collusion of the State Government.”
He mentioned that, in recent days, farmers from various districts across Karnataka have reported that, without prior notice, ownership of their lands has been abruptly transferred to the Waqf Board.
Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge criticised BJP MP Tejasvi Surya, claiming he has done nothing for Bengaluru. Kharge’s remarks came in response to the BJP MP’s accusations regarding Waqf Board land encroachment.
The Congress leader assured that the Karnataka government is committed to protecting farmers’ properties. (ANI)