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The meeting between Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) Chairman Jagdambika Pal and farmers in Karnataka, organized by BJP MP Tejasvi Surya, has ignited a political firestorm between the ruling Congress and the Opposition BJP. The farmers are concerned about losing their land and livelihoods due to claims of ownership by the Waqf Board. While the BJP maintains the meeting was necessary to assess the situation and address the farmers' concerns, the Congress alleges that the BJP is using the issue for political gain, particularly with elections and bypolls looming in several states, including Karnataka and Maharashtra. The Waqf Board's assertion of ownership over various properties, including temples, schools, and religious institutions, has sparked fear among the farmers who are demanding a resolution to the issue.
The BJP has accused the Karnataka government of altering land records in favor of the Waqf Board without proper documentation and due process. They claim that numerous historical sites, including ASI-protected monuments, have been claimed as Waqf properties, raising concerns about the preservation of cultural heritage. The BJP further alleges that the Karnataka government, led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, is using the Waqf issue as a ploy to appease a specific segment of the population and deflect attention from other pressing issues. Siddaramaiah, however, has countered these allegations, stating that the BJP was instrumental in issuing notices regarding Waqf properties during their previous tenure in power and is now engaging in political opportunism by raising the issue.
The JPC, tasked with examining the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, has been conducting field visits across India to gather perspectives from stakeholders on the proposed amendments. The visit to Karnataka, however, has been overshadowed by the political maneuvering and accusations of impropriety. While the JPC seeks to provide a platform for addressing concerns regarding the Waqf legislation, the ongoing controversy surrounding the land claims and the motivations behind the BJP's involvement have cast a shadow over the committee's objectives. The incident highlights the intricate complexities of land ownership, religious institutions, and political opportunism in the Indian context, further intensifying the existing political tensions.
Source: Congress, BJP Spar Over JPC Chairman Jagdambika Pal's Meeting With Karnataka Farmers Over Waqf Row