Last update:06 November 2024, 1:13 p.m. IST

The issue gained momentum after Karnataka Housing and Waqf Minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan launched ‘Waqf Adalats’ (courts), in a bid to reclaim properties over which the Waqf authorities claimed have been encroached upon.

The BJP had alleged that the Karnataka government was trying to grab land from Hindu farmers before amending the Waqf laws. (News18)

The state of Karnataka is currently facing major unrest due to widespread agitation against recent developments related to Waqf land claims. These issues have sparked deep concerns among residents, particularly farmers, who say the handling of land reallocations has caused unnecessary tension across the state. The main opposition party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has called the actions “land jihad”, accusing the Congress government of pursuing a policy of appeasement, while the Congress government appears to be grappling with negative reactions from public opinion and internal disagreements.

Background to the Waqf land controversy

The issue gained momentum after Housing and Waqf Minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan, a close aide of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, launched a series of ‘Waqf Adalats’ (courts) in various capitals of district, with the aim of recovering the properties which the Waqf authorities claimed to have been encroached upon. Khan’s team issued notices to farmers, religious institutions and even respected local monasteries (mutts), sparking outrage among local residents and his political colleagues.

In recent statements, Khan said that these adalats were carried out under the direct orders of CM Siddaramaiah and were aimed at recovering all the alleged Waqf properties. He stressed that these efforts are not a formality but a determined attempt to secure the lands he claims belong to the Waqf. Such statements have left the public and some government officials in confusion, with anger rising as affected farmers and residents grapple with the consequences of the sudden land claims.

How it started

The controversy began in Vijayapura district, where Khan announced that around 14,000 acres of land apparently belonging to the Waqf had been encroached upon, while only 780 acres remained under the control of the Waqf. Following this, district officials issued over 120 notices to around 400 farmers, with 44 property transfers unearthed in favor of the Waqf Board. This drew sharp criticism from the BJP, which accused the Congress government of pursuing an appeasement policy targeting Hindu farmers.

In response to the growing unrest, Congress leaders such as Minister MB Patil have attempted to clarify the situation, saying that discrepancies in previous Gazette notifications were behind some land labeling errors. For example, in Honavada village in Tikota Taluk, the Waqf had claimed the entire 1,200 acres of the village. However, Patil clarified that only 11 acres actually belonged to the Waqf, attributing the error to confusion in official documents. But this clarification failed to placate residents with similar situations being reported from villages like Talikote, Babaleshwara and Devarahipparagi.

Land protests intensify

The tipping point came in Indi Taluk, where a Tahsildar updated the records of 41 properties without informing the respective landowners, listing Waqf as the owner in the official documentation. Instead of rectifying records, the government asked farmers to provide land records dated before 1974 to verify ownership. This procedural omission has fueled widespread anger, with farmers questioning why they must provide proof of ownership without notice and whether the Waqf has provided documentation for these updates. Government officials reportedly characterized these concerns as “communal,” further escalating tensions.

Waqf claims across Karnataka

The wave of Waqf property claims was not limited to Vijayapura. In Yadgir district, farmers in villages like Kongandi and Sagara have also received Waqf notices, despite the lack of Waqf-related structures, such as mosques or dargahs, in the area. In Mandya district, villagers in Maddur Taluk were shocked to discover that 1.37 acres of their Hindu cremation ground had been designated as Waqf property, causing considerable distress among the local Hindu community.

The situation became particularly contentious in Shrirangapattana Taluk, where villagers reported that land associated with the Chikkamma Devi temple had been reclassified as Waqf property without any notification. In response, members of the Hindu community have protested what they perceive as forced and secretive changes.

Community tensions

Historically, Karnataka has been a peaceful state with few incidents of communal violence. However, mishandling of the Waqf’s territorial claims led to unrest. For example, in Kadakol village, Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan ordered the Gram Panchayat to register Waqf properties and even ordered officials to lock properties under Waqf control. Following these actions, panic ensued and clashes broke out, with police arresting 15 residents. The incident has left the region in a state of anxiety and fears of further conflict persist.

The case of the 13th century mutt

In another surprising development, the 13th century Viraktha Mutt at Sindagi, a revered site for Lingayat devotees, was recently reported as a Waqf property. Mutt authorities only became aware of this change after applying for a bank loan and discovering the Waqf’s name on their official land documents. BJP leaders have since visited the site to support the mutt administrators, further increasing political tensions.

Protests intensify amid growing frustration

Despite CM Siddaramaiah’s recent assurance to withdraw the notices and remove erroneous claims from the Waqf, many farmers feel betrayed. The BJP has launched state-wide protests, demanding clarity and accountability from the government. BJP leaders, including Karnataka BJP President BY Vijayendra, Basanagowda MP Patil Yatnal, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje and Leader of Opposition R Ashok, went on a protest spree in the State. In fact, R Ashok termed this Waqf fiasco as ‘Earth Jihad’ and vowed to protest against the state government.

The ruling Congress is now on the defensive, with prominent figures like Deputy CM DK Shivakumar and Revenue Minister Krishna Byregowda remaining silent on the issue, apparently due to internal disagreements. Sources say many ministers are frustrated with the way Minister Khan has handled the situation, with some pushing for him to be removed from office.

An uncertain path forward

The Waqf land dispute in Karnataka has become a flashpoint of tension between the Congress-led government and the people of the state. Although Siddaramaiah has pledged to remedy the situation and remove erroneous claims, public confidence in the government remains shaken. Daily reports of Waqf-related land disputes across the state continue to fuel the crisis, while protests by farmers, religious leaders and communities are only intensifying.

While Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan appears unwavering in his stance to reclaim 116,000 acres of alleged Waqf property, Karnataka faces a period of political and social turbulence that the government must handle carefully if it hopes to restore peace and trust between its inhabitants.