Ongoing land disputes with Waqf Board, MP Tejasvi Surya writes to JPC Chairman
BJP MP Tejasvi Surya has reached out to Jagdambika Pal, Chairperson of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf Amendment Bill, urging him to invite farmers from Karnataka’s Vijayapura District to discuss ongoing land disputes with the Waqf Board. In a letter shared on social media platform X, Surya highlighted the struggles of farmers who allegedly received notices declaring their lands as Waqf property. He requested the committee to allow these farmers to testify and consider a public hearing in the affected areas to better understand the issue.
Karnataka’s Minister for Waqf and Minority Affairs, Zameer Ahmad Khan, refuted the claims, stating that the government is committed to protecting farmers’ rights and ensuring no wrongful land encroachment takes place. He emphasized that notices have not been issued to seize farmers’ land and criticized the BJP for politicizing the matter ahead of elections. "We’ve held Waqf hearings across the state, from Yadgiri to Vijayapura, for nearly a year,” Khan said, dismissing accusations that the government was targeting farmers.
The Waqf land issue has intensified tensions between Congress and BJP, with Karnataka’s Chief Minister reiterating that no farmer would face eviction. He clarified, “No notices have been issued to farmers, and we will not evict anyone who has rightfully occupied their land for many years.”