BENGALURU: In response to allegations from Vijayapura district farmers that their lands were erroneously marked as Waqf properties, Karnataka's law and parliamentary affairs minister H K Patil announced on Monday the withdrawal of notices issued to them.
He added that an inquiry is underway to investigate the error, with action to be taken against those responsible.
"The govt has no intention to convert farmers' land into Waqf property," Patil said, assuring the public that any mistake will be corrected. "Taking note of the mistake that happened, the notices that were issued will be withdrawn. It needs to be inquired into as to why the mistake happened, and then it will be decided on action against those responsible," he added.
The controversy stems from claims by farmers in Vijayapura district that their properties were marked as Waqf assets, sparking concerns among the local farming community. Patil confirmed that the deputy commissioner of the district is conducting an investigation and will require a couple of days to begin the process of withdrawing the notices.
"The govt has no such intention. In case anyone committed such a mistake, it will be rectified, and those responsible will be punished. The land belongs to whoever it has to," Patil clarified.
The issue gained prominence after Bangalore South BJP MP Tejasvi Surya met with affected farmers on Friday. He criticised the Congress govt for allowing the situation to arise, amplifying concerns among the district’s residents.
Seeking to clarify the matter, Industries Minister M B Patil, who also oversees the Vijayapura district, attributed the confusion to an error in a gazette notification. According to him, only 11 acres of the disputed 1,200 acres in Honavada, Tikota taluk, were designated as Waqf property.
Noting that M B Patil's statement resolved the matter, H K Patil criticised the opposition BJP for prolonging the issue. "If BJP wants to continue it for political reasons, it is not right," he said.
When asked about BJP's demand for the resignation of Waqf minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan, Patil defended, saying, "Why? If notices were issued wrongly, there is a Deputy Commissioner of the district to rectify it, and there is the govt above it. For the mistake committed by a Talati (village accountant) or Tahsildar, it is not right to ask for the minister or anyone else's resignation," he said.
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