In response to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) state-wide protests over alleged mismanagement of Waqf properties in Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah criticized the demonstrations as “politically motivated” and accused the BJP of stirring controversy for electoral gain. Speaking to reporters on Monday, the Chief Minister dismissed the BJP’s allegations of “land jihad” and characterized their protests as an attempt to create political turmoil.
The controversy began after a section of farmers in Karnataka, particularly in Vijayapura district, reported that their lands were marked as Waqf properties, sparking concern among local landowners. The BJP quickly mobilized a series of protests, accusing the Congress-led government of allowing this issue to persist. The term “land jihad” was used by BJP leaders to claim that the Congress government was allegedly favoring the Waqf Board over the interests of Hindu farmers, thereby turning the matter into a politically charged issue.
“BJP never fights on real issues; they only make baseless allegations and protest for the sake of politics,” Siddaramaiah said. Referring to BJP leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Siddaramaiah highlighted the inconsistency in the BJP’s stance. “Bommai himself previously stated that every inch of encroached Waqf land should be recovered, but now he speaks against it for political reasons,” Siddaramaiah said, questioning the BJP’s sudden change of heart.
Government action to protect farmers
Siddaramaiah assured that his government had taken immediate steps to address the farmers’ concerns. Over the weekend, he directed state officials to retract all notices issued to farmers and nullify any unauthorized changes made to land records without due process. The Chief Minister reiterated that no farmers—whether Hindu, Muslim, or Christian—would face eviction because of these notices.
“I have made it very clear after a meeting that notices issued to farmers should be immediately revoked, and any unauthorized amendments in land records without proper notice should be annulled,” Siddaramaiah stated. “This action is meant to protect farmers from unnecessary harassment, regardless of their religious background.”
Despite these measures, BJP leaders continued their protests, staging demonstrations across Karnataka. They accused the Congress government of being lenient toward the Waqf Board and called for stricter oversight of Waqf properties to prevent land misallocation.
A long-standing issue
The Chief Minister reminded the public that the issue of Waqf property disputes is not new and has been addressed by multiple administrations. Siddaramaiah pointed out that during the tenures of previous Chief Ministers, including BJP leaders B.S. Yediyurappa, D.V. Sadananda Gowda, and Jagadish Shettar, as well as JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy, similar notices were issued in over 200 cases.
“These notices were not introduced by the current administration,” Siddaramaiah noted, refuting the idea that the Congress government was solely responsible for the land designation issues. “This is not a recent problem, nor is it exclusive to our government,” he added, asserting that the BJP’s current protest is politically driven rather than based on factual concerns.
Siddaramaiah’s response to communal allegations
The Waqf property issue took on a communal tone when former Mysuru MP Prathap Simha reportedly accused Siddaramaiah of being “pro-Muslim” on the issue. Responding to Simha’s comments, the Chief Minister condemned the statement as divisive and inappropriate. “What else can you expect from a communal person?” Siddaramaiah replied, accusing Simha of using religion to divide communities. “He has no respect for the Constitution or democracy and indulges in communal politics, aiming to divide society along religious and caste lines.”
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Siddaramaiah argued that using communal rhetoric to misrepresent the Waqf property issue only served to distract from the real issues at hand and was an attempt by BJP leaders to gain political mileage. “This kind of politics only aims to create religious and caste divides among people, which Karnataka does not need,” he stated.
BJP’s persistence Amid government clarification
Despite the government’s assurance to protect farmers and revoke unauthorized land notices, the BJP shows no signs of backing down. Their leaders contend that the Congress government is not addressing the broader issue of Waqf property allocations transparently and argue that a comprehensive policy review is necessary to prevent similar disputes in the future.
The Waqf property row comes as tensions between the BJP and Congress escalate in Karnataka, a state where both parties vie for influence. With the Congress taking a firm stance against the BJP’s protests, and the BJP continuing to press for accountability on land issues, the political landscape in Karnataka remains charged.
As Karnataka witnesses this renewed clash over religious and property rights, Siddaramaiah remains firm in his stance, defending the government’s actions as fair and aimed at the welfare of all farmers. The Chief Minister urged the BJP to move beyond divisive politics and work constructively on issues that impact the people of Karnataka.
