Karnataka: BJP-Congress spar over Waqf Board Claims; notices issued to farmers

A political dispute has intensified in Karnataka after the State Board of Waqfs claimed 1,500 acres of farmland in Vijayapura’s Honvada village, prompting backlash from both local farmers and political parties. On October 4, the Tehsildar issued a notice to farmers, stating their ancestral lands were being reassigned to the Waqf Board.

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The BJP swiftly condemned the action, accusing Karnataka’s Waqf Minister B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan of pressuring officials to expedite the registration of these lands under the Waqf Board within 15 days. BJP MP Tejasvi Surya, who visited Honvada, expressed concerns that the claims were made without adequate justification, suspecting an attempt to bypass reforms outlined in the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which is led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi added that the current Waqf provisions were also affecting underprivileged Muslims, suggesting the need for change.

In response, Minister Khan maintained that the notices were issued because the land legally falls under Waqf property. He emphasized that the Waqf Board would reclaim any encroached property, encouraging farmers to contest the decision legally if they disagreed. The Congress reassured that no land belonging to farmers would be taken unjustly, underscoring their commitment to safeguarding farmers’ rights.