New Delhi: Farmers in Karnataka’s Vijayapura are protesting against the Revenue Department’s recent decision to allegedly register their agricultural lands under the Waqf Board. Many farmers claim they received unexpected notices from local tehsildars, stating that their lands had been classified as Waqf property without prior notification.
The protests occurred outside the office of the District Collector, where farmers demanded the removal of Waqf references from their land records. They showcased documents proving their ownership and participated in a silent demonstration against the sudden registration of their lands.
The controversy stems from amendments to the Waqf Law, originally enacted in 1954. Subsequent governments have granted the Waqf Board increased powers, which farmers argue have led to unwarranted land claims.
BJP accuses Karnataka govt of seizing Hindu land
The BJP accuses the Karnataka government of attempting to seize land from Hindu farmers ahead of proposed amendments to Waqf laws. “In pursuit of vote-bank politics and appeasing minorities, Congress governments have granted the Waqf Board extensive powers to claim land throughout the country. In both 1995 and 2013, Congress administrations gave the Waqf Board unchecked authority to designate any land as Waqf following a brief inquiry, operate through its own tribunal with ultimate decision-making power, and evict encroachments under Section 54,” said Tejasvi Surya, Bengaluru South MP.
Among those affected is Eshwarappa Srishail, who received a notice on October 5 regarding his 3.58 acres of land in Survey No 743 of Kolhar village, according to a report by CNN-News18. The notice demands that he appear before the tehsildar or risk his land being registered as Waqf property. Eshwarappa asserts that his family has been cultivating the land since before India’s independence and possesses revenue records dating back to 1966 to validate their ownership.
Farmers to approach high court
Farmers have raised questions about the timing of these notices, suspecting a coordinated effort to classify their lands as Waqf property ahead of potential amendments to the Waqf laws. Reports indicate that numerous farmers across the district have received similar notices, raising concerns of a broader conspiracy aimed at undermining their land rights.
Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao dismissed the allegations as unfounded, asserting, “We are not seizing land like that,” in response to the BJP’s criticisms, the CNN-News18 report mentioned further.
Many farmers are now planning to approach Karnataka high court with their grievances.
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