Hubli: Union Minister Prahlad Joshi has strongly condemned the state government and the Waqf Board over the issue of notices being served to farmers, claiming that their lands are now being treated as Waqf property. Expressing his outrage, Joshi questioned how properties that have been cultivated by farmers for decades can suddenly be declared as Waqf land, likening it to treating these lands as “his father’s property.”
Speaking to the media in Hubli, Joshi lashed out, stating, “India is a country for Hindus. How can the property of people here be taken away? Is this the personal property of someone to give notices to farmers who have been tilling their lands for 40-50 years?” He accused the Waqf Board and the state government of appeasement and called the move an attack on farmers’ rights. Joshi claimed that if it were not for the BJP’s strong stance and the pressure from upcoming by-elections, the state government would not have acted.
Joshi highlighted that farmers in the state who have been cultivating their lands for generations are now being issued notices, marking their lands as Waqf property. He questioned, “Is this the property of someone’s father? Who is authorized to issue such notices?” According to Joshi, such actions reflect the “appeasement mentality” of the government, which he alleges is siding with “Muslim fanatics.” He even mentioned that temples and other public properties are also being targeted, citing a notice given to Wilson Hotel in Bangalore and a police station compound in Alnavar, adding that even the police were rendered helpless in this situation.
Joshi further alleged that the previous Congress government had given “unlimited powers” to the Waqf board , despite facing opposition. He questioned why the Congress leadership has not taken a firm stance against these notices, and called for the state government to revoke the Waqf boards s authority to issue such notices to farmers. “If they don’t, it means the state government is complicit in this issue,” he added.
The Union Minister assured that the BJP government will stand by the farmers and fight against these notices. “Those who misuse the name of Allah and use it to justify such acts are doing a disservice. We are not against Allah; we are against those who misuse religion for their own ends,” Joshi emphasized. He stated that the BJP is prepared to escalate this issue, hinting at discussions at the highest level within the party to address it.
The controversy centers around lands in Uppina Betageri village of Dharwad taluk, where farmers have suddenly found their inherited lands marked as Waqf property in official records. This issue came to light after the Waqf Board issued notices to farmers in Vijayapur. Farmers from villages such as Javalagi, Masuti, and Hutagi are now struggling to have these entries removed from their records.
In 2021 and 2022, entries began appearing in land deeds, classifying fields ranging from 3 to 20 acres as Waqf property. Farmers claim that their lands, which were not marked as such in earlier records from 2018 and 2019, have now been registered without any due process. This has led to widespread confusion and fear among the farming community, who say their lands have been passed down through generations, and were never gifts or donations to the Waqf Board.
“The lands of farmers in Uppina Betageri belong to families like the Javalagis, Masutis, and Hutagis,” Joshi stated. He stressed that these families have a right to their inherited lands and should not be forced to fight to reclaim them from false designations. Farmers have repeatedly approached local authorities, including the Waqf office and the tahsildar, but have not received any satisfactory response.
The issue of 20 acres of land, including 3 acres belonging to Marabasappa Masoothi and 5 acres to Mallikarjuna Hutagi, being marked as Waqf property, has sparked a larger debate about land rights and the power of the Waqf Board. Farmers across the state now find themselves in a battle to prove ownership of lands that have been in their families for decades.
The situation has created a political storm, with Joshi accusing the Congress-led state government of pandering to vote-bank politics. He asserted that the BJP would not let this issue slide and would work to ensure that farmers’ rights are protected. “We are fully prepared to fight this issue, and there are ongoing discussions at the high command level,” he added.
With tensions rising, the matter is likely to become a key issue in the upcoming by-elections, as political parties seek to gain support from affected farmers and the wider public.
