Key Points
- Congress minister Zameer Ahmed Khan explained Waqf’s land holdings.
- Khan denied that Waqf took land from farmers.
- BJP claimed there were unauthorized changes to land records in Vijayapura.
- Farmers voiced concerns about losing their ancestral land.
- Congress promised to take action against officials involved in the record changes.
Looma News
In Karnataka’s Vijayapura district, a big dispute has come up about the Waqf board’s claims on several acres of land. Congress minister Zameer Ahmed Khan spoke on the matter, stating that out of the 1.12 lakh acres once managed by Waqf, only 23,860 acres are still under its control. He rejected claims that Waqf took land from farmers, highlighting his own farming background and respect for farmers’ rights.
Khan criticized BJP MP Tejasvi Surya, saying that Surya’s recent press conference relied on bad information. He suggested that the BJP might be using this issue to stir up trouble before the upcoming elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand. Khan noted that the Muzrai department, responsible for religious endowment land, has had 748 acres encroached upon and questioned why the BJP hasn’t tackled this issue with the same urgency.
On the other hand, the BJP alleged that Waqf’s name was improperly added to land records for 44 properties in Indi and Chadachan taluks without proper notice. This claim came after a meeting between Khan and district officials. Many farmers, who were unaware of the changes in the Record of Rights, Tenancy, and Crops (RTC), were alarmed at the thought of losing their ancestral land. In Honvada village, farmers reported getting a letter from the Tehsildar on October 4, stating that 1,500 acres of their ancestral land would be reassigned to the Waqf Board.
Congress leader MB Patil confirmed that 41 unauthorized changes had been made in Column 11 of the RTC, leading to an order for the Deputy Commissioner (DC) to fix the records. He also promised that action would be taken against the Tehsildar who allowed these changes to happen without following the proper process.
