Karnataka is currently experiencing significant unrest as widespread protests erupt over the latest developments concerning Waqf land claims. These actions have raised alarm, especially among farmers, who believe the way land reassignments are being handled has led to unnecessary friction throughout the state. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the main opposition party, has dubbed these actions as land jihad, accusing the Congress government of appeasing the Islamic community. Meanwhile, the Congress government finds itself grappling with mounting public discontent and growing internal divisions.
Waqf Board claims on public, ASI-protected, and temple lands
Despite assurances from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah that Waqf Board notices to farmers would be revoked, more instances are surfacing across Karnataka of lands and monuments being classified as Waqf properties. Based on the reports from Public TV, not only have agricultural lands, temples, and religious institutions been listed, but even monuments protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), along with houses and public buildings, now appear as Waqf properties in revenue records.
In Vijayapura, several ASI-protected sites, including iconic monuments like the Gol Gumbaz, Bara Kaman, Ibrahim Roza, and Upli Burj, have reportedly been marked as Waqf properties. A total of 43 sites, including ancient wells and arches, are affected by these designations, raising concerns among local farmers and residents.
In Bidar district, an entire village—Dharmapura—covering 26 acres on Survey No. 87 is reportedly marked as Waqf property. The village includes houses, a temple, a government school, and anganwadis, all now classified under Waqf. While the 2001 records showed no such claims, a 2013 entry indicated a Waqf claim, with 2024 records now fully listing it as Waqf property. Around 2,000 residents in about 200 families now face an uncertain future, with many vowing not to leave their homes and preparing to launch protests.
In Gadag district’s Naregal, 11.19 acres out of 15.06 acres of land belonging to the historic Halakeri Annadaneshwara Math Prasada Nilaya—a temple established before Bharat’s independence—are also now listed as Waqf property, with claims tied to the Rehman Shah Wali Dargah. Land for the Prasada Nilaya had originally been donated by local landowners and farmers, and this reclassification has angered devotees, who are now preparing to protest. The late seer of the math, Dr. Abhinava Annadana Swami, had previously committed to taking legal action, though no steps have been taken since his passing.
Waqf Claims public land in Bagalkot, Hassan, and Chamarajanagar
In a new escalation of the Waqf property controversy, several lands used for government purposes and public welfare have reportedly been listed as Waqf properties, triggering widespread discontent. Notably, land where a government office and educational facilities are situated, along with agricultural lands owned by long-standing farmers, are now being claimed by the Waqf Board.
In Badami, Bagalkot district, land identified as Survey No. 192, where the Malaprabha Left Bank Engineering Division office stands, and the upcoming Mini Vidhana Soudha are located, is now marked as Waqf property by the state Waqf Board. As a result, messages circulating on social media are urging farmers and commercial property owners to verify if their lands have been listed as Waqf assets.
Meanwhile, in Ghattadahalli village of Halebid hobli in Belur taluk, Hassan district, 38 guntas of land (Survey No. 435), initially donated years ago for a government school, is now claimed by the Waqf Board. Until recently, revenue records had shown the land as allocated for educational purposes. This revelation has sparked strong reactions from local residents and leaders. Belur MLA H K Suresh led a protest in Belur town, where citizens staged a sit-in at the taluk office, raising slogans against the Congress government, Chief Minister, and Waqf Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan. Protesters demanded that the land remain dedicated to the school and vowed to intensify their protests if necessary.
Further controversy arose in VC Hosur village, Chamarajanagar district, where three farmers fear losing their agricultural lands. In July 2022, the district Waqf advisory committee requested the tahsildar to transfer 2 acres and 9 guntas of land to the Jamia Masjid in Haradanahalli. Three months ago, the request was forwarded by the RRT division to the revenue inspector for action. The land, belonging to farmers H G Shantappa, H V Girimallu, and H V Nagaraju, was purchased by their father from a Muslim owner 45 years ago. The families only recently became aware of the Waqf committee’s recommendation and now fear the loss of their ancestral land, citing concerns over the recent developments in the state.
These revelations have intensified the ongoing debate on land ownership and have raised calls for governmental intervention to safeguard land designated for public use and private ownership.
Kumaraswamy criticizes Congress and warns of public outcry over Waqf property dispute
Based on the Public TV reports, Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy has accused the Congress-led Karnataka government of causing divisions along religious and caste lines amid a growing controversy over Waqf property. Speaking during a campaign stop in Doddahalli village, Channapatna constituency, Kumaraswamy urged the government to apologize for what he alleged as biased governance.
Addressing the media, Kumaraswamy questioned the government’s intentions, saying, “How long will you deceive people this way? Are you favouring one community at the expense of another? The government should apologize and correct its mistakes. Otherwise, the public’s patience may run out, and they might confront you directly.” He referenced a recent comment by a Congress MLC about storming the governor’s residence, comparing it to the unrest seen in Bangladesh, cautioning that similar actions could happen in Karnataka if farmers’ concerns are ignored.
Refuting any involvement in the Waqf issue, Kumaraswamy clarified that no files related to Waqf properties crossed his desk during his time as Chief Minister. “No Waqf decisions were made during the tenures of HD Kumaraswamy, Yediyurappa, or Basavaraj Bommai,” he asserted, calling CM Siddaramaiah’s allegations unfounded. He challenged the CM to publicly disclose any wrongdoing on his part, if any.
Kumaraswamy went further, emphasizing that he had never approved any transfer of farmers’ land, temple lands, or Ramanagara hills to the Waqf Board. He noted that Congress leaders in charge of relevant departments, including Krishna Byre Gowda as Revenue Minister and the current Waqf Minister, were responsible during his tenure. “I have never allowed illegal activities or politicized sensitive issues,” Kumaraswamy said, urging the government to take responsibility for any errors instead of shifting blame.
Hindu leader warns of unrest over Waqf encroachments
Based on the reports from Public TV, former minister and BJP leader K.S. Eshwarappa issued a strong warning, predicting a bloody revolution if alleged encroachments by the Waqf Board on Hindu lands are not addressed. Speaking to the media, Eshwarappa asserted that the Hindu community would not stand for the encroachment of lands belonging to farmers, temples, religious institutions, and properties associated with Hindu pandits. He also commented on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s recent expressions of faith, cautioning that it should not be mere performance. “If the Chief Minister truly wants divine blessings, he should take sincere action to prevent attacks on the Hindu community. Otherwise, he risks losing his position and facing legal consequences,” Eshwarappa stated.
He went on to accuse Siddaramaiah of acting against Hindu interests to secure Islamic votes, alleging that legislator Zameer Ahmed was influencing the Chief Minister’s decisions. Eshwarappa urged the government to act swiftly to remove Waqf Board listings from revenue records to avoid unrest. Furthermore, he criticized opposition parties for boycotting the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) discussions on the Waqf Amendment Bill, arguing that their absence undermines the Hindu community’s interests. Eshwarappa called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to introduce legislation that would dismantle the Waqf Board, framing it as necessary for protecting Hindu interests.
Jagdambika Pal, Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for the Waqf Amendment Bill and BJP MP, has announced plans to visit Hubballi district on November 7 to meet with farmers whose lands have recently been marked as Waqf property.
In response to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s decision to withdraw all Waqf-related notices, Pal remarked that this action is an admission that the notices were issued erroneously by the government. Commenting on his upcoming visit, Pal stated, “With this decision, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah acknowledges that the Waqf notices were mistakenly issued on farmers’ lands. I will be in Karnataka on November 7 to examine how such widespread notices could have been issued by the state government.”
In a recent speech, Karnataka Congress MLA and Waqf Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan expressed strong pro-Islamic sentiments, calling for the clear demarcation of Waqf properties to assert Islamic identity in the region. During his address, Khan emphasized the importance of marking a graveyard overseen by the Waqf Board with green paint, saying, “It should be painted in green so that whoever sees it should understand it’s a ‘Waqf property.’ Even if a Shaitan [devil] sees it from a distance, he must know that it’s a ‘Waqf property!'” By insisting on this clear, visible ownership, he aims to symbolize the prominence of Islamic identity on these lands.
Furthermore, Khan suggested that his role as Waqf Minister was a divine responsibility. He stated, “Allah has made me a Waqf Minister. If Allah questions me tomorrow, ‘Zameer—I made you a Waqf Minister; I gave you the power to protect my property. Did you protect it!?” Through this framing, he appealed to the Islamic community, urging them to uphold and guard Waqf lands, viewing it as a religious duty. This rhetoric has been viewed by critics as pushing a pro-Islamic agenda while allegedly sidelining Hindu communities in Karnataka, contributing to growing religious divides.
Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan has reportedly been pressuring local administrative officials to expedite the transfer of land to Waqf control, according to audio accessed by journalist Harish Upadhya. During a Waqf Adalat, Khan explained the process of ensuring Waqf applications are quickly addressed by conducting follow-up meetings with officials from relevant departments, including the Assistant Commissioner (AC), Deputy Commissioner (DC), Tahsildar, and Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) departments, along with the police. According to Khan, officials are given a strict deadline of one month to resolve Waqf claims on land and ensure that pending applications receive priority treatment, which has led to swift action in districts like Bidar, where hundreds of claims have been processed.
In his address, Khan highlighted recent actions in Bidar, where 310 Kathas (land records) were approved following the Waqf Adalat, with only 70 applications still pending. The Minister emphasized the importance of these efforts, stating that in other regions like Vijayapura, long-pending applications—some awaiting action for 10-15 years—were also being processed in large numbers. Additionally, Khan mentioned that encroachments were actively being cleared, with four cases already resolved and the remaining ones scheduled for clearance within 15 days. His statement has raised concerns among local landowners and officials, as the Waqf Board’s influence over land records appears to be expanding rapidly across Karnataka.
Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan has openly discussed the rapid processing of Waqf land claims during recent Waqf Adalats, revealing that over 700 Kathas (land records) pending for 10-15 years were cleared in a single session. He emphasized that in Bidar alone, 310 Kathas were completed, with just 70 still pending, underscoring the Waqf Board’s assertive push for land registration across the state. His statements have sparked significant controversy, as they suggest an accelerated process to classify public and private lands under Waqf control through administrative channels, raising questions about the transparency and legitimacy of such proceedings.
Adding to this tension, the BJP has accused the Congress-led Karnataka government of land-grabbing tactics and claims that Waqf designations have been quietly inserted into revenue records in anticipation of a forthcoming Waqf Amendment Bill proposed by the Modi government. BJP leaders allege that these swift changes, reportedly impacting over 15,000 acres, represent an attempt to secure Waqf Board control over properties statewide, creating an uproar among affected landowners and sparking a broader debate on the implications of such actions on Karnataka’s governance and land administration.
The Siddaramaiah-led Karnataka Congress government is being criticized for showing bias against the Hindu community and supporting illegal land encroachments in the name of the Waqf board. Despite growing concerns, the government has yet to take action against the Waqf board or MLA B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan, who openly endorsed transferring lands to Waqf control. This apparent lack of accountability is raising alarm, with many questioning the government’s commitment to fairness and transparency in governance. The spread of Ghazwa-e-Hind posters in the states of Bharat has raised concerns about extremist intentions. This pro-Abrahamic ideology poses a significant threat to the Hindu community and the nation.
