November 4, 2024: Karnataka is witnessing a heated political battle following the Karnataka Waqf Board's claim over 43 historically significant monuments in Vijayapura district, including the renowned Gol Gumbaz and Ibrahim Rauza. The Waqf Board's assertion, made back in 2009, has resurfaced amid ongoing disputes regarding land ownership, but the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has yet to amend official records to recognize these claims.
In a social media post, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of exploiting the Waqf controversy for political gain. He stated that the state government had already intervened by withdrawing notices issued to farmers concerning Waqf property. “The BJP continues its protests even after we mandated that no decisions should inconvenience farmers,” Siddaramaiah remarked, noting that such notices were procedural steps taken by previous BJP administrations.
The situation intensified with the circulation of a video featuring former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, who addressed the Muslim community, asserting that “Waqf property belongs to Allah, and those who encroached on it will answer to Him.” Siddaramaiah labeled this rhetoric as hypocritical, accusing the BJP of inciting communal tensions.
BJP leaders, including Bommai and Leader of Opposition R. Ashok, have countered Siddaramaiah’s claims, alleging that the Congress party is inconsistent on the issue. Bommai argued that Congress had instructed local officials to issue the contentious notices and accused the government of a political U-turn following public backlash. Ashok has called for the resignation of Waqf Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan, criticizing the government’s withdrawal of notices as a politically motivated reversal.
As the controversy unfolds, Siddaramaiah has reiterated his government’s commitment to serving all communities in Karnataka and resisting what he described as the BJP’s smear campaigns aimed at undermining state welfare programs.
The BJP's response has been aggressive, demanding further clarification on the status of Waqf properties and calling for the repeal of a 1975 notification regarding these lands. This political drama follows a recent incident where farmers in Honvada village reported receiving letters indicating that 1,500 acres of their ancestral land would be reassigned to the Waqf Board.