Bellary: Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Friday claimed a new kind of ‘jihad’ in Karnataka and alleged that under this the Waqf Board is claiming ownership of the lands of farmers, temples and others. Taking aim at the Congress government led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, he said that it has taken the politics of appeasement to a new height and also alleged that it has, in a way, made appeasement of minorities its goal.
He said, “A new kind of ‘jihad’ is taking place across the state through Waqf. Looking at the conduct of the Congress party and Siddaramaiah… they appear to be hypocrites.” He said Congress leaders were claiming that the BJP had promised in its manifesto that it would protect Waqf properties.
Joshi said, “Yes.” We said it. It is on record. What we have said is that the existing Waqf properties will be saved, which have been encroached upon and looted by senior Congress leaders.” The Union Minister alleged, ”They (Congress leaders) have snatched away these lands. Have taken illegal benefits of thousands of crores of rupees in the form of lease and rent.” Joshi said that the Anwar Manipadi report says that senior Congress leaders have misused Waqf properties.
“We said we would protect those lands,” he said. What are you (Congress government) doing now? The lands of monasteries and temples are being claimed by Waqf. I am asking Siddaramaiah, what are you trying to do?
He said, “This is a big conspiracy. State and country do not matter for the Congress party. He has a soft spot in his heart for terrorists…what’s happening? What has happened to the Congress party, have they lost their mind?
Maniappadi, then chairman of the Karnataka State Minorities Commission, had prepared the report and submitted it to the government in March 2012 when the BJP was in power. Later it was presented in the assembly.
“What is happening now is that Waqf is being used to claim lands of farmers, individuals, temples, monasteries and in some cases entire villages,” Joshi alleged. A section of farmers in Vijayapura district alleged. It was alleged that their lands had been marked as Waqf properties. Similar allegations have subsequently been made from some other places and also by some organizations and religious institutions like monasteries.
As the controversy escalated, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah directed officials to immediately cancel all notices issued to farmers and also cancel any unauthorized amendments in land records without notice.
Joshi also claimed that the state Congress government is now preparing to withdraw the cases registered in the KG Halli and DJ Halli riot cases, in which the house of a Dalit Congress MLA was burnt.
“I have reliable information that they are withdrawing those cases also,” he said.
He said that despite the ban on Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and the court upholding it, the Congress government had already withdrawn 125 cases against them. Additionally, criminal cases registered in the Hubli riot incidents in 2022 were recently withdrawn, including those registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Joshi expressed confidence that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will win all the three assembly seats in the by-elections to be held on November 13 in the state. He claimed that NDA’s victory in Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly elections would be bigger than that of Haryana.