Karnataka: Controversy erupts over government’s land transfer to minority welfare department

In a move that has sparked controversy and accusations of minority appeasement, the Siddharamaiah-led Congress government in Karnataka has transferred prime land in Bengaluru to the Minority Welfare Department for the construction of Maulana Azad/Moraji Desai schools.

The government has been accused of pursuing minority-centric measures in various sectors, allegedly to secure votes in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. These measures include extending largesse in the budget, proposing to levy tax income from Hindu temples, and making controversial decisions such as removing a Hanuman saffron flag while allowing a Muslim flag on a lamp post.

The recent decision to transfer two acres of land to the Minority Welfare Department has drawn strong criticism from various quarters. The land, originally donated by Muthoji Rao Sindia for a veterinary hospital in 1936, has been used for animal husbandry and veterinary services, catering to the needs of dairy farmers in and around the Chamrajpet locality. Hindu Janajagruthi Samithi spokesman Mohan Gowda condemned the move, alleging that it was yet another attempt by the government to appease minorities and maintain their vote bank.

Speaking to the media, Gowda stated, “We condemn this move by the government. Why is land donated for a veterinary hospital now being used for educational purposes? We demand that the government recall this order immediately.”

Responding to the criticism, Minority Welfare Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan justified the decision, citing the need to address the educational requirements of the minority population in the Chamarajpet assembly constituency. He emphasised that the land had not been utilised for a long time and argued that repurposing it for educational facilities would benefit the community.

However, members of other communities, including the Maratha community, expressed outrage over the decision. Raghavendra Rao, representing the Maratha community, denounced the move as an injustice and argued that the land, originally donated by their ancestors for a veterinary hospital, should not be repurposed for other purposes.

BJP MLC Chalavadi Narayanaswamy accused the government of polarising votes ahead of the Lok Sabha polls and questioned the decision to allocate donated land to a different department. He criticised the government for misusing its power and called for transparency in land allocation.

Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly, R Ashoka, raised concerns about the impact of the decision on animal welfare and questioned the rationale behind diverting land meant for animal husbandry to other purposes. He highlighted the importance of preserving dedicated land for veterinary services and urged the government to reconsider its decision.

The controversy surrounding the land transfer underscores the deep-seated tensions and political divisions within Karnataka, with stakeholders from various communities expressing divergent views on the government’s actions.