Invite Karnataka Farmers 'Affected By Waqf Land Disputes', Tejasvi Surya Urges Panel Looking Into Bill

BJP MP Tejasvi Surya explained that these farmers have been cultivating their lands for nearly a century and have historical records dating back to the 1920s and 1930s.

Surya emphasised the need to invite these affected farmers as witnesses to provide insight into their grievances.

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BJP MP Tejasvi Surya has requested the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf Amendment Bill to hear testimonies from farmers in Karnataka’s Vijayapura district over their ongoing land disputes with the Waqf Board. In a letter addressed to JPC Chairman Jagdambika Pal on Wednesday, Surya emphasized the need to invite these affected farmers as witnesses to provide insight into their grievances.

Surya explained that these farmers have been cultivating their lands for nearly a century and have historical records dating back to the 1920s and 1930s. However, many of them recently received notices classifying their lands as Waqf property, often without supporting evidence or clear justification. The BJP MP highlighted that almost 1,500 acres of land in one village alone have been labeled as Waqf property with alleged changes made to key land records like the RTC, pahani, and mutation registers, bypassing due legal procedures.

BJP MP Tejasvi Surya writes a letter to Waqf Amendment Bill JPC (Joint Parliamentary Committee) Chairman Jagdambika Pal requesting him to invite farmers from Vijayapura District as witnesses to discuss their land disputes with Waqf Board. pic.twitter.com/2IyHYfNc2n

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In the letter, Tejasvi Surya said, "I, therefore, request that you invite the delegation of affected farmers to appear as witnesses before the Committee. Their testimony will provide valuable insights into the local implications of the proposed amendments and the pressing issues faced by the farming community in this regard. I also request you to visit the affected regions in Karnataka to receive complaints and grievances and have a public hearing with the farmers adversely impacted by the Waqf Board's actions." 

Meanwhile, Karnataka Minister Ramalinga Reddy assured that the state government, led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, had already instructed the withdrawal of these notices. He pointed out that similar notices had been served during the previous BJP government’s tenure as well.