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The controversy surrounding the Waqf Board's land claims in Karnataka has escalated, prompting the chairperson of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, to visit the state. Jagdambika Pal, the JPC chair, will be visiting Vijayapura and Hubballi on November 7th to interact with farmers who claim their land is being wrongfully designated as Waqf property.
This visit comes after BJP MP Tejasvi Surya appealed to the JPC chair to hear the grievances of the affected farmers. Surya has been vocal in criticizing the Waqf Board's actions, alleging that they are unjustly claiming ownership of land that farmers have cultivated for generations. In a letter to the JPC chair on October 29th, Surya stated that farmers possess land records dating back to the 1920s and 1930s, yet are being served notices declaring their land as Waqf property without proper evidence or explanation. He claimed that nearly 1,500 acres in one village alone have been designated as Waqf property.
The opposition BJP has vehemently opposed the Waqf Board's initiative and has held a statewide protest on November 4th. The party has urged farmers to resist any attempts by Waqf officials to enter their land and has called upon the authorities to amend the Waqf Act to curtail the board's power. In response, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has announced that notices issued to farmers will be withdrawn and ownership changes in land records will be canceled. He has dismissed the BJP protest as politically motivated.
This land dispute has emerged in the lead-up to the by-elections in three Karnataka Assembly constituencies scheduled for November 13th, adding a layer of political significance to the issue. The JPC chair's visit to Karnataka is expected to shed light on the complexities of the land claims and provide an opportunity for farmers to voice their concerns directly to a parliamentary committee.
Source: Wakf Bill JPC Chairperson to visit Karnataka on November 7 to interact with farmers