Waqf board row: Karnataka CM directs officials to withdraw notices issued to farmers

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah (centre) held a meeting with Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda (right), Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H. K. Patil (left), and senior Minority Department and Waqf Board officials, on the controversy involving land of farmers, on November 2, 2024.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

With the opposition BJP and farmers expected to hold a State-wide protest on November 4, opposing the classification of agriculture land as Waqf Board properties in land records in several districts, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah instructed officials of the Revenue Department to immediately withdraw the notices served to farmers.

He also told officials not to evict farmers from their land, which they have been cultivating over the years.

For the last few days, the Revenue Department officials in various districts have been issuing notices to farmers stating that their land was classified as Waqf Board property in land records.

The Chief Minister directed officials not to cause any problem to farmers in the coming days.

On November 2, Mr Siddaramaiah held a meeting with Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H. K. Patil and other senior Minority Department and Waqf Board officials where he expressed his disappointment in the developments of the recent past.

The Chief Minister expressed his dismay at officials who had taken a decision on issuing notices to farmers.

The Wakf Board has been laying claim on the ownership of land being cultivated by farmers over several decades. Revenue Department officials had issued notices to farmers in Vijayapura, Dharwad, Haveri, Chitradurga, Davangere, Shivamogga, Gadag and other districts.

After taking stock of all developments in the matter, the Chief Minister said the opposition BJP and JD(S) have been politicising the issue for electoral gains. The opposition has been making efforts to disturb peace in the society, Mr Siddaramaiah said.

A decision was taken at the meeting to withdraw the notices issued to farmers related to change of land records, and officials were told not to evict farmers from their land.

Earlier, the Chief Minister said that the opposition parties have been using the issue to gain political mileage in the by-polls in three constituencies in Karnataka, and in the legislative Assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand.

The Chief Minister is expected to commence campaigning for by-polls in Sandur, Channapatna and Shiggaon constituencies on November 4.