BJP protests accusing Cong-led state govt of ‘appeasement policy’

Dharwad: BJP leaders, Sri Ram Sene activists and farmers' organisations staged a demonstration to protest against the Congress government in the state accusing it of appeasement politics and using Waqf to grab the farmers' land and properties of Hindu religious institutions.Leading the protest at the deputy commissioner's office, deputy leader of opposition in assembly Arvind Bellad said that the Congress government has brought the Waqf scam to the fore to divert attention from the Muda scam and Valmiki Development Corporation scam involving the chief minister and his cabinet colleagues.After the Congress came to power in the state, several scams have surfaced and the latest is issuing notices to the farmers through Waqf Board, claiming ownership of the lands being cultivated by the farmers. He said, the Waqf Board was started by Nehru and was given powers by Sonia Gandhi and former prime minister Manmohan Singh during UPA II.He expressed outrage that there has been an attempt to grab farmers' lands by entering waqf in the ‘pahani' (title deeds). This has created fear in the minds of farmers that they will lose their land.Bellad said that the BJP will always stand by the farmers and common people of this country and protect their ancestral properties.Joining him, MLA Mahesh Tenginakai said the Congress govt has hatched a conspiracy to grab eight acres of land owned by Sindagi's Virakta Mutt, 57 acres of land in Halagavadi village and other properties of several villages, claiming that they are waqf properties.After facing backlash, CM Siddaramaiah has orally assured of withdrawing the notices issued to the farmers but the gazette notification has to be withdrawn, he demanded.Kundagol MLA MR Patil, Former MLA Amrut Desai, BJP leaders Tippanna Majjagi, Seema Masuti, Iresh Anchatgeri, Shivu Hiremath, Mohan Ramdurg, Sanjay Kapatkar and others were present.Taking potshots against the state govt, Sriram Sene chief Pramod Mutalik demanded that the govt should apologise to the farmers.The local police deployed at the Board's office prevented the protesters from entering the office and this triggered heated argument between protesters and the police.