Image Credit: X Account @hkpatilinc
Karnataka Govt to Withdraw Waqf Land Notices Sent to Farmers
Karnataka’s Minister of Law and Parliamentary Affairs, HK Patil, announced on Monday that notices sent to farmers in Vijayapura district, marking their land as Waqf properties, will be retracted.
This decision comes in response to widespread concern from local farmers who claimed that their ancestral lands were erroneously designated as Waqf properties, sparking fears of land reassignment.
Patil clarified that the notices were the result of an “error,” and assured that the state government had no intention of reassigning farmers’ lands to the Waqf Board. “Taking note of the mistake that has happened, the notices that were issued will be withdrawn. It needs to be inquired into as to why the mistake happened and then it will be decided on action against those responsible,” Patil stated, adding that the retraction process may take a few days.
The issue came to the forefront when farmers in Honvada village, Vijayapura, received notices from the tehsildar on October 4, indicating that approximately 1,500 acres of their land were marked for Waqf Board control. The district’s deputy commissioner has launched an investigation to examine the circumstances surrounding this error and assess whether any officials were responsible.
Political Reactions and Accusations
The incident has attracted political criticism, with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders alleging targeted actions against farmers. Leader of Opposition R Ashoka demanded clarification from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, accusing the Congress-led government of targeting lands under the pretext of Waqf registration. “The Congress government should disclose how many notices were issued to temples and religious places in Vijayapura district as they are also claimed to be Waqf board properties,” Ashoka asserted.
Ashoka further alleged that Karnataka Waqf Minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan had directed officials to mark certain lands as Waqf properties during a recent visit to Vijayapura, accusing him of “encroachment under the guise of Waqf registration.” He likened the minister’s actions to those of “a modern-day Tipu Sultan” and alleged an agenda to expand influence at the expense of vulnerable farmers.
The Karnataka government’s swift response to retract the notices aims to address the controversy while an internal investigation seeks to clarify the procedural missteps.
