In Haveri, Karnataka, BJP leaders staged a protest demanding the removal of the term “Waqf Board” from government records amid the ongoing controversy over Waqf land encroachments. The protest, which was part of a state-wide demonstration, saw BJP leaders such as former Minister BC Patil, Haveri district BJP president Arunkumar Pujar, and former MLA Virupakshappa Bellary take to the streets, raising concerns about alleged encroachments by the Waqf Board on farmers’ land.
The demonstrators were later detained by the police. Protests were organized in front of Deputy Commissioner (DC) and Tahsildar offices across the state under the banner “Our Land, Our Right.”
Karnataka Legislative Council Leader of Opposition, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, spoke about the ongoing protests: “All over Karnataka, our leaders are holding a state-wide protest for three days (on November 21, 22, and 23) to demand the removal of the Waqf Board from government records. The Waqf Board should be removed because it is capturing farmers’ land. It is a wrong move…”
In response to the controversy, the Karnataka Government’s Principal Secretary of the Revenue Department issued a directive on November 9, warning officials against altering land mutation records or issuing eviction notices to farmers under the Waqf Act. The letter directed officials to revoke any land mutation orders and stop the ongoing mutation work, citing the need to protect farmers’ land.
Meanwhile, Jagdambika Pal, Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024, announced that the committee’s report is ready and will be submitted on time. The JPC aims to present its report during the Winter Session of Parliament, running from November 25 to December 20, 2024.
“This is not the last meeting. If the questions raised by members are answered, their opinions will be considered for the proposed amendment, and a consensus will be formed. Our report is ready, and the committee will submit it on time,” Pal said.
