Karnataka Farmers and Leaders Raise Concerns Over Waqf Board’s Claims on Ancestral Lands

Ramanagara (Karnataka), November 8, 2024: Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, R Ashoka, has alleged that the Waqf Board is unfairly seizing Hindu-owned lands across the state. This claim follows reports from several farmers who say their lands have been classified as Waqf property, causing them to lose ownership.

“Waqf land is spreading like cancer across Karnataka. The Waqf Board is seizing Hindu lands,” Ashoka stated during an election rally for NDA candidate Nikhil Kumaraswamy in the Channapatna Assembly by-election. He further accused the Congress-led state government of applying dual standards, enforcing different rules for Hindu communities and Waqf-related matters.

Calls for Equal Land Laws

Ashoka questioned the integrity of the current government’s policies, adding, “Is Karnataka part of India or Pakistan? Congress applies one set of laws for certain communities and another for Hindu society. Temple and monastery lands are now being classified as Waqf property, while farmers’ lands are listed as Waqf or Dargah property in official records.”

Ashoka also criticized Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, accusing him of prioritizing personal gains. “Does Siddaramaiah’s greed have no limits? Why does he need so many plots for himself?” he remarked, further claiming that Congress has caused unrest among Karnataka’s rural population.

Local Leaders and Farmers Rally Against Waqf Land Claims

Mysore and Kodagu MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar echoed Ashoka’s concerns, calling for collective action to address what he called the “Waqf issue.” Wadiyar emphasized the need to protect Hindu assets in Karnataka’s Old Mysore region, an area traditionally known for its communal harmony. “We need to fight these claims legally to protect our lands,” he urged, advocating for amendments to the Waqf Act to ensure equitable treatment across communities.

Joint Parliamentary Committee on Waqf (Amendment) Bill Engages with Farmers

In response to the growing controversy, Jagdambika Pal, Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, visited Karnataka at the request of Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya. During his visit to Vijayapura, Pal held discussions with farmers whose lands have recently been classified as Waqf property. Many farmers presented him with a memorandum, recounting their long-standing ownership and ongoing agricultural use of these lands.

“Farmers told us they’ve been farming these lands for centuries, with legal deeds in hand, but now they’re receiving notices from the Waqf Board,” Pal reported. He confirmed he would bring the farmers’ concerns to the JPC.

Rising Concerns in Vijayapura District

The situation in Vijayapura District has become particularly distressing, with over 15,000 acres, including ancestral farmland, temples, and even Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)-protected monuments, reportedly claimed as Waqf property. In Honavada village alone, 1,500 acres across 89 survey numbers have been unilaterally designated as Waqf property, according to recent reports. The impact extends to religious sites, including the Chalukyan-era Someshwara Temple and the 12th-century Virakta Mutt, which have also been listed under Waqf jurisdiction.

Local farmers and landowners, facing potential loss of their ancestral lands and livelihoods, have expressed mounting frustration. They argue that these classifications have been made without proper notification or due process, undermining their generational rights.

With calls from both political leaders and farmers for equitable land laws and transparent processes, the Karnataka land dispute remains a focal point of state politics and community concerns.