How Farmers' Land Was Converted to Waqf Without Karnataka Government's Involvement: Jagdambika Pal Questions

The chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, Jagdambika Pal, on Thursday questioned how land belonging to farmers, mutts, and temples became Waqf property without the involvement of the Karnataka government.

Addressing a media conference in Hubballi, he said, "In Karnataka, land belonging to farmers, temples and ancients properties of mutts which had records of as long as 500 years to 1,000 years back were being declared Waqf property. Also, changes were being done in the land registry and ownership rights."

Pal added that even if official revenue records existed, this was going on.

This week, the state government put out a formal statement that it would withdraw all the notices.

While this may probably deter the government from ordering Revenue Department officials to evict farmers, V S Krishna asked if this will solve the problem.

This is a problem in districts like Hubballi, Bidar, Gulbarga, and Shivamogga. What is eye-catching is that thousands of acres of land, even as ancient as 15,000 acres of mutts and 1,000 acres of temple properties, are being turned into Waqf property.

In the event, Pal questioned how Waqf property could be declared the land that had been under tilling by farmers since 1920 or 1930.

"This is a serious, significant issue. Over 70 petitions have already come in, and legislators have also submitted appeals. Thousands of farmers were probably to be affected by this. JPC member and MP Tejasvi Surya has provided information on the issues arising in Karnataka, he said.

Waqf assets are being tagged to properties without due documentation. After the tribunal decisions, the properties lost. This is a matter of serious concern and puts farmers in distress," Pal said.
The committee has been on several places in the country on this issue. Tomorrow we will be visiting Bhubaneswar, Kolkata and several other places, he added.
The committee will submit the report to the government, he said.

"We are meeting everyone to gather comprehensive information and understand the details. In the last month, this serious problem has emerged in Karnataka. We will include all these details in the report," he said.
Replying to a question, he clarified that the JPC includes members from various parties, including the Samajwadi Party, DMK, Congress, and Owaisi's AIMM party.

"Farmers, the general public, women, and even Muslim individuals have submitted petitions here," he said in response to another question.