Waqf row takes centre stage on first day of winter session

Belagavi: The controversy surrounding waqf land and recent Waqf Board notices designating parcels of agricultural land across the state as waqf properties led to intense debates in both Houses of the legislature on Monday.Opposition leader Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, while moving an adjournment motion in the council, demanded the immediate repeal of the 1974 gazette notification which is at the heart of the dispute, setting the stage for a heated discussion."We are not raising our voice against any particular community, but against an institution," said Narayanaswamy. "We have no enmity with anyone, but small mistakes like these could pave the way for hatred in the days to come. This must be prevented. If these parcels of land were indeed donated to the Waqf board, let the govt disclose details of such donations."Narayanaswamy questioned how the Waqf Board acquired vast tracts of land in a short span, if not through valid donations. "The chief minister may have ordered removal of certain entries from land records, but that will only delay the issue indefinitely. A permanent solution requires repealing the 1974 gazette notification," Narayanaswamy asserted.BJP's CT Ravi joined the debate, pressing for an investigation into the authenticity of alleged land donations to the Waqf Board. "This controversy erupted after waqf adalats were held and notices were served to farmers," Ravi said. "Shockingly, even a 1,500-year-old temple, which predates the introduction of Islam in India, has been listed as waqf property. If the govt can cancel ‘Inam grants' for temples, why can't it dissolve the Waqf Board or cancel its holdings?"BJP members accused successive Congress govts at the Centre, under former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi, PV Narasimha Rao, and Dr Manmohan Singh, of amending the Waqf Act to grant sweeping powers to the Waqf Board. This triggered sharp exchanges on both sides of the aisle, forcing a brief adjournment before the verbal skirmishes resumed, ultimately leading to the chairperson adjourning proceedings until Tuesday.In the assembly, a demand by opposition leader R Ashoka to discuss the waqf issue before any other agenda item caused disruption. Speaker UT Khader initially resisted, citing the planned unveiling of a large painting of Anubhava Mantapa, a 12th-century spiritual and social reform hub led by 12th century social reformer Basavanna. "You are talking about Anubhava Mantapa while several temples of Basavanna have been declared waqf properties," Ashoka retorted.Congress members countered, with revenue minister Krishna Byre Gowda blaming past BJP govts for most Waqf-related issues. Minister Sharan Prakash Patil accused BJP and RSS of opposing Basavanna's principles, further escalating verbal jousts.Eventually, Speaker Khader announced that a discussion under Rule 69 would be held after question hour Tuesday, prompting BJP to momentarily withdraw its demands.