VIJAYA[PURA: The farmers in Vijayapura decided not to celebrate Deepawali festival this week in protest against Wakf board notices to them. The Karnataka government’s alleged appeasement politics has come under severe criticism as farmers in Vijayapura district have decided to take a stand against what they see as an unjust move. Farmers, led by the Akhand Karnataka Farmers Association and Karnataka State Farmers Association, are planning a massive protest against notices issued to them declaring their lands as Waqf property. This decision has triggered widespread anger, with farmers vowing not to celebrate Diwali this year as a mark of protest.
Arvind Kulkarni, District General Secretary of the Akhand Karnataka Farmers Association, along with Sangamesh Sagara, District President of the Karnataka State Farmers Association, has condemned the government’s actions, calling them a blatant attempt to appease certain groups at the expense of the livelihood of farmers. “This act has brought several farmer families to the streets, forcing them into uncertainty and despair. Farmers who are the backbone of the country are being betrayed by those in power,” said Sangamesh Sagara. He said farmers decided not to celebrate Deepavali this year due to changes made in RTCs of farmers by state government.
In a statement, the farmers announced that they would be staging an indefinite protest starting Tuesday, August 29. The protest march will commence from the Siddeshwar Temple in Vijayapura and proceed to the DC s office. “We will light lamps, cook, eat, and continue our protest until justice is served,” said a determined Arvind Kulkarni. The farmers plan to engage in a continuous Dharani Satyagraha ( Dharna protest), pledging to fight until the controversial Waqf property notices are revoked.
The protesters have called on all affected farmers, farmer organizations, progressive groups, and community leaders to join the movement. They emphasized that this struggle is a non-partisan, secular, and inclusive protest that seeks to unite all sections of society in support of farmers’ rights.
BJP Demands Government Action: “Misrule by Congress”
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has severely condemned the move of Congress-led Karnataka government alleging it is height of minority appeasement . Addressing the media, senior BJP leader and MP Govinda Karajola warned the state government that if the controversial Pahani (land record) entries were not amended and the Waqf property notices withdrawn, the BJP would lead a state-wide agitation. “The Congress government is indulging in appeasement politics by prioritizing Waqf properties over farmers’ rights. This is a continuation of the misrule we have seen before. Farmers are losing their homes and lands, and this will not be tolerated,” Karajola declared.
Karajola criticized the Congress for trying to resurrect a “medieval rule” where land was arbitrarily claimed as Waqf property. “Bringing the Congress to power has led to farmers being robbed of their lands and houses. Over 15,000 acres have been claimed as Waqf property, causing widespread distress among farmers,” he said, further accusing the Congress of ignoring the needs of marginalized communities like Harijans and tribals by seizing land that could have been allotted to them.
“State-Wide Agitation If No Action”: BJP Steps Up Pressure
In a move to escalate the issue, BJP MLC Ravikumar criticized Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, accusing him of acting like a modern-day Tipu Sultan. “Is Siddaramaiah running the state, or is there a second Tipu regime? This appeasement has gone too far. If the notices are not withdrawn, we will take this fight to every corner of the state,” said Ravikumar. He also called for the resignation of Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan, who he claims is responsible for the controversy. “Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan must resign immediately. This issue has been a deliberate attempt to increase Waqf assets at the cost of farmers’ livelihoods,” Ravikumar said.
To address the issue, the BJP has formed a special team to visit affected areas, listen to the grievances of the farmers, and compile a comprehensive report. The team, led by MP Govinda Karajola and comprising MLAs Harish Poonja, Mahesh Tenginakai, former MLC Arun Shahapur, and Raita Morcha State General Secretary Kalmarudappa, is scheduled to visit the affected locations on August 29. BJP State President B.Y. Vijayendra has instructed the team to prepare an extensive report on the situation and to ensure that the farmers’ voices are heard.
Farmers and Public Support: A Growing Movement Against Injustice
The issue has resonated beyond Vijayapura, with farmers across Karnataka expressing solidarity. Social media platforms have been flooded with posts criticizing the government’s actions, with many condemning the alleged “appeasement politics” that have put farmers’ futures in jeopardy. Videos of farmers receiving Waqf notices have gone viral, sparking a wave of support from citizens who are calling for justice.
“We live on this land, we have cultivated it for generations, and now the government wants to take it away. This is not just a legal issue; it is an issue of survival,” said one farmer who received a notice. Others echoed this sentiment, saying that the government’s actions were pushing them to the brink and threatening their very way of life.
Farmers have vowed to continue their protest indefinitely, with plans to scale up the movement if their demands are not met. “This is a fight for our rights, our land, and our future. We will not back down,” said Sangamesh Sagara, one of the protest leaders.
It may be recalled here that Hebbar Iyengar a caste of Hindu Brahmins of Tamil origin whose members follow the Visishtadvaita philosophy propounded by Ramanuja. They are found primarily in Karnataka especially in Southern Districts.
In the year 1773 the cruel king Tipu Sultan ordered to massacre 1500 men, women and children on Deepavali day in Melukote in Pandavapura taluk in Mandya district. The community even now does not celebrate Deepavali festival in memory and mark of respect to their ancestors and observes Sutak.
As tensions rise, all eyes are now on the Karnataka government. Will it respond to the farmers’ demands, or will it continue down a path of appeasement and risk further alienation of one of the state’s most crucial communities? Only time will tell, but for now, the farmers’ struggle seems poised to gain momentum, with support pouring in from across Karnatak
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