Waqf Properties Row: JPC Chairman Receives Over 500 Petitions From Aggrieved Farmers In Karnataka

Hubballi: Over 500 petitions were received by Chairman of the Joint Committee of Parliament on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, Jagdambika Pal, on Thursday from farmers in Karnataka's northern districts, who alleged that their lands were marked as Waqf properties, according to Bengaluru South BJP MP Tejasvi Surya's office.

Fact-Finding Mission in Karnataka

Pal, along with Surya, also a JCP member, visited Hubballi, Vijayapura, and Belagavi, during which he met farmers and members of various organizations who complained that their lands were being claimed by the State Waqf Board.

Farmers' Concerns over Land Claims by Waqf Board

"Jagdambika Pal along with Surya received over 500 petitions from farmers from Vijayapura, Bidar, Kalaburagi, Hubballi, Bagalkote, and Belgavi on their agricultural land being claimed by the Waqf Board as Waqf property," Surya's office said in a statement.

Pal's Assurance of Addressing Issues in JPC

Noting that he had come to the state on a "fact-finding" mission and to meet those aggrieved, Pal said farmers and various organizations have handed over to him documents and memorandums.

Allegations of Tampering in Land Records

He said he assured them that their issues would be discussed in the JPC and incorporated into the report. "Maybe the state government has given directions to the revenue department officials not to evict the farmers, but will the issue be resolved? There has been tampering of records, mutations, Waqf has ensured changes in the documents. What is the state government doing on this, and who is responsible for this?" he asked.

Deputy CM's Reaction and Allegations of Political Motive

Reacting to Pal's visit, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar described it as a "drama company" tour, calling it "politically motivated," with an eye on upcoming assembly by-polls in the state and elections in neighboring Maharashtra .

Objections from State Congress Leaders

Charging the JPC Chairman with indulging in political propaganda, Shivakumar, who is also the state Congress President, said it is not a joint Parliamentary committee that is visiting, as "only BJP members have come and are doing politics." Home Minister G Parameshwara also said, "it doesn't look like JPC as a committee is visiting, as the Chairman is visiting alone disregarding rules. "It seems to be a politically motivated visit." Members of the committee, too, have raised objections stating that any visit has to be decided in the panel and "unilaterally one cannot make visits," he said.

Pal's Remarks on Waqf Adalats in Vijayapura

Later, addressing a gathering during his visit to Vijayapura, Pal questioned, "....what is the hurry for someone, when a transparent law (Waqf law) is coming into force, to go to every district to conduct adalats (Waqf adalats) and declare the lands as Waqf properties?"

Farmers' Allegations of Changes in Land Records

Further highlighting various incidents and petitions submitted to him by farmers, groups, and individuals, he said, the state government has to answer why such things are happening in the state. "Why notices are being given to farmers who are cultivating the land since 1920 and 1930, even before the law is enacted?" he asked, while pointing out that farmers have claimed that apart from serving notices, changes have been made in the RTC (Record of Rights, Tenancy and Crops), pahani, and mutation registers.

Claim Over Protected Monuments Sparks Controversy

Noting that the Karnataka Waqf board has laid claim to at least 53 historic Archeological Survey of India-protected monuments across the state, Pal asked, "how is it a Waqf property?" There were allegations by a section of farmers from Vijayapura district that their lands were marked as Waqf properties, and similar charges have surfaced from a few other places subsequently. Similar allegations have also been made by some organizations and religious institutions like Maths.

Chief Minister's Orders to Revoke Notices

With the row escalating, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah directed officials that all notices issued to farmers be immediately revoked, and any unauthorized amendments in land records without due notice must also be nullified.

BJP's Accusations of "Land Jihad"

The opposition BJP has been holding protests, accusing the Congress government of indulging in "land jihad." The party has also demanded the sacking of Waqf Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan from the Cabinet.

Tejasvi Surya's Letter to JCP Chairman

Surya had recently written to Pal, drawing attention to the plight of farmers from Vijayapura District and other areas in the vicinity in Karnataka, who have been served notices claiming their land as Waqf property.

Concerns Over Rise in Waqf Property Claims

Surya said, "the exponential rise in the number of instances in Karnataka where agricultural lands are being claimed by the State Waqf Board is happening during a period in which the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, is meeting to deliberate on the reforms for the Waqf Act, 1995." "The Karnataka Minority Affairs and Waqf Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan has been conducting ‘Waqf Adalats’ in several parts of the state. Such Waqf Adalats do not have any valid status under the Constitution or any of the Revenue Department Rules," he said.

Allegations of Inadequate Action by the State Government

Surya alleged that the CM made mere token announcements to cancel any recent changes made in the revenue records, but Waqf adalats have not been stopped, and the notices have not been withdrawn to all farmers concerned yet.