BJP MP Sparks Debate Over Waqf Land in Karnataka

BJP MP Tejasvi Surya urged the JPC on Waqf Amendment Bill to hear from Karnataka farmers allegedly affected by Waqf land claims. Karnataka Minister Zameer Ahmad Khan dismissed the claims, accusing the BJP of exploiting the issue for election purposes. The controversy intensifies as political tensions rise.

In a move that has ignited political tensions, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Tejasvi Surya has called upon Jagdambika Pal, Chairperson of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf Amendment Bill, to summon a Karnataka farmers' delegation. These farmers allege their lands are wrongfully claimed as Waqf property.

Via social media platform X, Surya shared his letter to Pal, highlighting the plight faced by farmers in Vijayapura District and surrounding areas. "I have requested the delegation to present their cases as witnesses and for a public hearing to address the issue firsthand," Surya stated, emphasizing the urgency of the matter.

However, Karnataka's Minister for Waqf and Minority Affairs, Zameer Ahmad Khan, refutes these allegations, questioning the legitimacy of the encroachment claims. He criticized the BJP for politicizing the issue ahead of elections, asserting that the ongoing Waqf adalats demonstrate transparency and procedural diligence. For now, the Chief Minister has reassured that farmers will not be evicted, asserting that no eviction notices have been issued.

(With inputs from agencies.)