The Chikkaballapura BJP unit, led by opposition leader R. Ashok, staged a strong protest against the alleged encroachment of Waqf property in the region on Tuesday. The protest, dubbed “Our Land is Our Right,” saw a procession through BB Road in the city and culminated in a demonstration at Ambedkar Circle. Prominent political figures including former MP Muniswamy and current MP Sudhakar also participated in the protest, voicing their opposition to the reported encroachments.
The ongoing controversy surrounding the Waqf Board took a new turn as opposition leaders in Chikkaballapura launched a vehement protest against what they called the “illegal encroachment” of lands belonging to schools and temples by the Waqf Board. BJP leader R. Ashok led the charge, accusing the Waqf Board of unfairly claiming land and property across the state.
.@BJP4Karnataka ವತಿಯಿಂದ 'ನಮ್ಮ ಭೂಮಿ-ನಮ್ಮ ಹಕ್ಕು' ಎಂಬ ಘೋಷಣೆಯೊಂದಿಗೆ ರಾಜ್ಯದಾದ್ಯಂತ ವಕ್ಫ ಮಂಡಳಿಯ ಭೂ ಕಬಳಿಕೆ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ನಡೆಸುತ್ತಿರುವ ಹೋರಾಟದ ಭಾಗವಾಗಿ ಚಿಕ್ಕಬಳ್ಳಾಪುರ ನಗರದ ಕಂದವಾರ ವಾರ್ಡ್ ನಲ್ಲಿ ಭಾರತ ರತ್ನ ಸರ್ ಎಂ. ವಿಶ್ವೇಶ್ವರಯ್ಯನವರು ಓದಿದ್ದ ಸರ್ಕಾರಿ ಮಾದರಿ ಹಿರಿಯ ಪ್ರಾಥಮಿಕ ಶಾಲೆಗೆ ಭೇಟಿ ನೀಡಿ, ಬೃಹತ್ ಪ್ರತಿಭಟನಾ… pic.twitter.com/QltPhhIfPu
— R. Ashoka (@RAshokaBJP) November 19, 2024
Modi would destroy Waqf demon
Speaking at a massive protest organized by the Chikkaballapura BJP unit, Ashok expressed outrage over the growing influence of the Waqf Board and its alleged encroachments. “The Waqf Board is like a demon, a monster, a Rakshasa,” Ashok said, emphasizing that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would “destroy” the Waqf Board in the next parliamentary session. He continued, “This board is swallowing up all the land. Just like a demon that consumes everything in its path, the Waqf Board is taking over farmers’ lands across Karnataka. We will fight to remove this monster.”
Ashok further criticized the board’s actions, questioning its legitimacy and authority. “Why should this board have special status? Why should it have rights that even Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians don’t have? The Constitution, created by Dr. Ambedkar, doesn’t give such privileges to any one community. This is the faulty thinking of the Congress party, and we will continue to fight to abolish the Waqf Board,” he declared, warning that protests would intensify during the next parliamentary session.
Ashok likened the Waqf Board to a “timingila” (huge serpent) that devours everything in its way. “The Waqf Board is like a snake that is swallowing all the farmers’ land. We cannot allow this. We will take this issue to the streets and ensure that the Modi government takes action to eliminate this monster once and for all.”
Dr Sudhakar’s alleged land Jihad
Dr K Sudhakar, Member of Parliament and prominent BJP leader, also joined the protest and criticized the Congress-led state government for what he called the “Land Jihad” taking place under their watch. “The Congress government in the state has declared a ‘Land Jihad’ by allowing the Waqf Board to take over farmers’ lands. We will fight to get the land back to the farmers, and we will continue to ensure that the rightful owners get their land back,” Sudhakar said.
He also accused the Congress government of using oppressive methods to control people, drawing parallels between the British colonial rule and current state governance. “The Congress is following the same methods as the British. They rule by oppression, not by fairness. Farmers are being denied their rights, and their lands are being taken without any regard for justice,” he said, calling out the state’s handling of land issues and policies that benefit the Waqf Board while hurting the common man.
Hindus being treated as second class citizens
Sudhakar and Ashok both claimed that the Waqf Board had a vast amount of land and income from properties, yet it was being allowed to operate unchecked by the state government. “The Waqf Board controls thousands of acres of land, generating hundreds of crores in revenue, but the government is not holding them accountable,” Sudhakar said. He went on to accuse the Congress of favoring the Waqf Board while discriminating against Hindus. “The government treats Hindus as second-class citizens and gives preferential treatment to the Waqf Board,” he added.
The leaders also criticized what they saw as biased police action. “Whenever a Hindu group wants to carry out a peaceful procession, they are stopped. But when the Waqf Board or Muslim groups take action, nothing happens. The police, under Congress rule, are acting as though they are part of the Waqf Board, instead of serving the public,” they charged. They also made reference to recent events where Hindu groups had faced restrictions while religious processions involving Muslim groups had been allowed without any interference.
Protests to continue
The leaders made it clear that this protest was just the beginning. “We will not stop here. We will continue to fight against the Waqf Board, and we will make sure that this issue is addressed in the next parliamentary session. People will come out onto the streets, and we will ensure that Modi and the BJP take action,” Ashok promised.
In a state already dealing with issues of land encroachment, this new round of protests against the Waqf Board is likely to heat up the political debate, with the BJP calling for the board’s abolition and the Congress-led government defending its actions. The outcome of these protests and the legal battles over land rights will play a crucial role in shaping the future political landscape of Karnataka.
Waqf board claims land in Timmasandra
The waqf property dispute escalated in Chintamani taluk , leading to tension and conflict in Thimmasandra village. A dispute between Muslim leaders and local farmers over the plowing of land has sparked an uproar, resulting in the seizure of a farmer’s tractor and the registration of an FIR.
The dispute centers around the Waqf Board’s claim over 10 properties in Survey Nos. 13/1, 13/3, and 20 of Thimmasandra. According to reports, the issue dates back to 2014 when farmers approached the deputy commissioners court, challenging the inclusion of these lands in the Waqf register. The court, however, ruled in favor of the Waqf Board. In response, the farmers took the matter to the High Court, and the case remains under trial.
Recently, members of the Jamia Masjid Committee conducted a survey of the land and erected a barbed wire fence around it, further intensifying the dispute. The farmers, who have been cultivating and using the land for over 70 years, claim that the Waqf Board’s actions are unjust and have caused hardship to their Dalit families. “We have been plowing this land for decades, but now the Waqf Board has illegally entered our land and put up a barbed wire fence to trouble us,” said one of the farmers from Thimmasandra.
In response, the farmers decided to remove the fence and continue plowing the land, triggering a confrontation with the Jamia Masjid Committee members. The situation quickly escalated into a verbal altercation between the two groups, creating a tense atmosphere in the village. Upon hearing about the disturbance, Chintamani Rural Police Inspector Shivraj, along with his team, arrived at the scene and intervened to de-escalate the situation.
To address the complaint filed by Jamia Masjid Committee Secretary Muhammad Inayat, who accused the farmers of illegal entry onto the land, the police registered a case and seized the tractor. Inayat’s complaint led to the formalization of the case, which is based on allegations of trespassing.
As the matter is under ongoing litigation in the High Court, Chikkaballapur SP Kushal Chowksi confirmed that the police have registered the case and seized the tractor. The police have advised both parties to maintain the status quo until the legal proceedings are concluded. Tehsildar Sudarshan also suggested that both sides refrain from any further actions to avoid escalating the conflict.
The issue of Waqf land and encroachments has been a point of contention in several parts of Karnataka, with farmers and local communities raising concerns about illegal encroachments on lands that they have traditionally used for farming. The outcome of this particular case, now in the High Court, could have significant implications for the broader Waqf land disputes in the state.
