R. Ashoka Slams Wakf Board Land Acquisitions as a "Death Warrant" for Farmers

Bengaluru: Opposition Leader R. Ashoka has lashed out at the Congress government, accusing it of enabling land grabs by the Wakf Board that are threatening the livelihoods of farmers in Karnataka. Addressing a gathering during a protest in K.R. Puram, Ashoka claimed that the ongoing land acquisitions by the Wakf Board amounted to a “death warrant” for farmers, urging the state government to take immediate action to safeguard agricultural land.

The controversy surrounding the Wakf Board’s land acquisitions has sparked intense debate, with Ashoka calling on the government to amend the Wakf Act to prevent further seizures of agricultural land. Ashoka, a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), voiced his concerns over what he described as an attempt to appropriate farmlands for religious purposes, a claim that has set the political landscape on edge.

At the heart of Ashoka’s allegations is the claim that the Congress government, particularly Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Minister Zameer Ahmed, has allowed the Wakf Board to expand its reach by acquiring land under the guise of religious endowments. He accused the Congress of empowering the Wakf Board during its previous tenure to appease Muslim voters, without regard for the consequences to farmers, who face displacement and loss of livelihood.

Ashoka demanded that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah resign for his alleged role in supporting these land seizures, which he claimed were causing significant distress among the state’s farming community. “Siddaramaiah has brought tears to farmers’ eyes by backing these illegal land grabs. The Congress government has done nothing but betray the people who grow our food,” Ashoka stated, his voice echoing the sentiments of many in the farming community who feel threatened by the land acquisitions.

Ashoka’s remarks were directed at Minister Zameer Ahmed, whom he accused of orchestrating the land acquisitions to benefit the Wakf Board and further the interests of a particular community. Ashoka also questioned the Congress government’s priorities, claiming that funds meant for Dalit welfare were being diverted to appease minorities.

A key element of Ashoka’s rhetoric was his claim that the Wakf Board’s activities were part of a larger effort to convert farmlands into religious properties. He alleged that there was a coordinated effort underway, which he referred to as “land jihad,” to reclassify agricultural lands into graveyards or other religious endowments, thus diminishing the amount of land available for farming.

One of the most controversial aspects of Ashoka’s allegations involved a centuries-old temple in Srirangapatna, which he claimed had been “reclassified” as a graveyard. This assertion further fueled the accusation that the Congress government was complicit in turning Hindu religious sites into properties under the Wakf Board’s control.

Ashoka also took aim at the Congress government for allegedly fostering an environment in which “terrorists and extremists” felt secure. According to him, the government’s appeasement of certain communities had emboldened these groups and endangered the state’s social harmony.

Ashoka’s speech culminated in a call for urgent legal reforms. He demanded that the government immediately amend the Wakf Act to curb the Wakf Board’s power to acquire land and protect the rights of farmers. In his view, the Act had been used to further political agendas at the cost of the state’s agricultural interests.

“The Wakf Board has turned into a ‘saber board’ under this government,” Ashoka stated, suggesting that the Board was being used as a tool for political and religious mobilisation. He warned that unless the law was amended, the state would be pushed further towards ruin, with farmers suffering the most.

Ashoka assured the crowd that the BJP would continue to fight for farmers’ rights, vowing to ensure that land records were updated and that full ownership of land was returned to those who worked it. In a bid to escalate the matter, he announced that he had written to the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Wakf Amendment Bill, requesting an investigation into the activities of the Wakf Board in Karnataka. He described the Board’s land seizures as part of an “ongoing racket” that needed to be put to an end.

The accusations levelled by Ashoka have sparked significant controversy, with the Congress party vehemently denying any wrongdoing. Congress leaders have called Ashoka’s remarks baseless and inflammatory, insisting that the Wakf Board’s activities are legitimate and aimed at the welfare of all communities, not just one.

Nevertheless, Ashoka’s statements have garnered support from certain sections of the population, particularly in rural areas where farmers are anxious about losing their land. The political fallout from these allegations could have significant implications, especially as Karnataka heads towards future elections, with both parties seeking to capitalise on the growing discontent.

The issue has also sparked broader debates around the role of the Wakf Board, land rights, and religious minorities in Karnataka, with many questioning the balance the state government must strike between maintaining secular governance and addressing the concerns of various communities.