VIJAYAPURA: A controversy is escalating in Vijayapura district as farmers allege that local authorities have unlawfully added their lands to the Karnataka Waqf Board’s property list. Reports indicate that the RTC (Record of Rights, Tenancy and Crops) Pahani records now mistakenly list certain lands as belonging to the “Karnataka Waqf Board Bangalore Masajit (Sunni) Waqf,” particularly affecting farmers’ ability to secure loans and threatening their livelihoods.
Yamanappa Kenganala, a farmer from Tennihalli village, expressed his shock upon discovering the Waqf Board’s name on his land deed without prior notice from the Tehsildar’s office. He criticized the Karnataka Congress government for this alleged injustice. Similar notifications have been reported across 13 taluks in the district, indicating a widespread issue.
In Tikota taluk’s Honwada village, farmers were told that 1,200 acres of their land are claimed by the Shah Aminuddin Dargah, despite the absence of such a dargah in the area. Agricultural leader Tukaram Nalavade has vowed to submit a petition to the deputy commissioner’s court to contest these changes and defend farmers’ land rights, stating, “Hindu lands should not be misrepresented as Waqf property.”
The district currently has 14,201 acres registered as Waqf property, with 1,354 acres marked as encroached. Deputy Commissioner T Bhubalan attempted to alleviate concerns, explaining that notices are a standard procedure to determine land ownership status and do not imply automatic transfer to the Waqf Board.
The situation has sparked political controversy, with opposition leaders criticizing the state government for alleged bias. MP Tejaswi Surya accused the government of trying to “convert Karnataka into another Pakistan” and promised to take legal action if necessary to protect farmers’ rights. He claimed that the Waqf Board is seeking to claim approximately 15,000 acres in Vijayapura.
Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan defended the process, insisting that all Waqf properties are recognized through proper legal documentation and that false claims would be investigated. However, Surya contended that existing laws enable the Waqf Board to claim lands without adequate checks, alleging that this is a tactic to secure votes from a particular community.
The central government is reportedly planning to amend the Waqf Act to address these issues, aiming to prevent future disputes and ensure farmers’ rights are upheld. As tensions rise in Vijayapura, farmers, political leaders, and citizens await clarity on the fate of the contested lands, with the potential for a legal battle looming in the Karnataka High Court.
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