Amid row over ‘waqf properties’, House panel chief visits Karnataka, Cong calls it ‘drama, party work’

The visit comes amid a controversy over notices by the revenue authorities to farmers over occupancy of land identified as “waqf properties”. Vijayapura district administration issued 124 notices in all over various properties owned by the Karnataka State Board for Auqaf, or the waqf board, but under the possession of 433 people. The notices were sent after a ‘waqf adalat (hearing)’ was held on October 10.

Amid protests by the BJP and the row escalating, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah directed officials that all notices issued to farmers be immediately revoked, and any unauthorised amendments in land records without due notice must also be nullified. The BJP alleged that the notices were part of “land jihad” with the support of the state government. The Congress countered by pointing out that similar notices were issued during the then CM Basavaraj Bommai’s tenure.

After meeting farmers in Vijayapura, Pal told reporters, “I want to assure you that you will be invited to Delhi for a detailed hearing. I am not able to meet individual delegations today and I would like the MPs (of the BJP in Karnataka) to constitute a couple of delegations that can come to Delhi… they will be able to meet all 31 members of the JPC who are from different parties.”

He added that government officials like the Revenue Secretary will also be consulted on the waqf issue in Karnataka.

However, his visit triggered strong reactions from Congress with Deputy CM D K Shivakumar saying, “They have staged a drama. The JPC must have accountability. When they are visiting a state, they must inform the government and the officials must be informed. Just one committee member cannot carry out the JPC’s function. The chairman of the committee has come for party work along with an MP who is a member of the JPC.”

“When the BJP government, headed by Bommai was in power, they issued similar notices in Dharwad and staked claim for land. This has happened in other places as well. The CM has said the notices will be withdrawn. There is no question of taking over the land of any farmer in Karnataka, which has also been stated by the Revenue Minister,” he said.

In a post on X, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said: “The Chairman of the Joint Working Committee on the Waqf Bill 2024 recently went to Karnataka to look into some local matter. The Committee does not have investigation powers, its job is to look into the Bill alone. Moreover the Chairman cannot act unilaterally & the Committee has to act collectively. We had already conducted a consultation in Karnataka. We are bound by parliamentary procedure so we aren’t in a position to explain the questionable conduct of the Chairman since the formation of the Committee.”

Responding to the criticism over his visit, Pal said, “Owaisi is a member (of the JPC) and Sanjay Singh too. There are members from all parties and they are asking why I have come to Karnataka on my own. In Karnataka, since the JPC was constituted two months ago, the number of notices issued over Wakf land to farmers and others has increased by 38%,” Pal said.