BJP to hold statewide protest against alleged land seizure by Waqf board

Team Udayavani, Nov 2, 2024, 12:24 PM IST

The Karnataka BJP has announced a statewide protest on Monday, November 4, against the Congress government, accusing it of supporting the Waqf Board in taking over farmers’ lands.

Addressing a press conference in the city on Saturday, BJP state secretary C. Muniraju, district president Ramalingappa, and leaders like Seikal Ramachandragouda and Maralukunte Krishnamurthy condemned the Congress government’s alleged anti-farmer policies.

The BJP leaders claimed that the Congress government is conspiring to seize farmland and that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is supporting minister Zameer Ahmed in this move. They accused the Congress of favoring one community for vote-bank purposes, describing the actions as “anti-Hindu.”

BJP leaders pointed to previous scandals and alleged that the government is now issuing notices to acquire land from poor and marginalized farmers using outdated gazette notifications. They demanded that these notices be withdrawn immediately. As part of the protest, the BJP will stage demonstrations outside district administration offices across the state on November 4.

Ramalingappa, the BJP district president, also alleged that more properties were handed over to the Waqf Board during the UPA government’s term, and expressed concerns that temples and mathas established before the advent of Islam were now marked as Waqf properties. He compared the situation to “land jihad” and demanded the resignation of minister Zameer Ahmed.

The press conference was attended by several BJP officials, including Muralidhar, Madhu Suryanarayan, Seikal Anandagouda, Ashok, Lakshmipathi, Devasthanahalli Ramanna, and Kondenahalli Murali.