Tejasvi Surya Criticizes Waqf Board for Claiming 1,500 Acres of Farmers' Land in Karnataka

BJP leader Tejasvi Surya raised concerns on Friday, claiming that the Karnataka Waqf Board is trying to take over 1,500 acres of ancestral farmland in Honvada village, located in the Vijayapura district of North Karnataka. This area has been owned and cultivated by local farmers for generations.

Surya, the MP for Bengaluru South, stated that the farmers of Honvada in Tikota Taluk were shocked to receive notices that declared their lands as Waqf property. According to Surya, these notices were given without any evidence or explanation. Surya also accused Karnataka's Waqf Minister, B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan, of ordering officials to officially register these lands under the Waqf Board’s name within 15 days.

"No Evidence, No Explanation"

According to Surya, in recent months, many farmers in Vijayapura district have received notices claiming their lands as Waqf property — again, with no evidence provided. This land claim, he said, covers around 1,500 acres in a single village, Honvada. Surya criticized Minister Khan for allegedly rushing the process, especially before the new Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, is enacted by the Modi-led central government.

Surya Calls the Process "Unjust"

Surya condemned the way these changes are happening, calling it a violation of justice and fair play. He argued that the land title changes are being done secretly, without the farmers' knowledge or involvement. “India runs by law and the Constitution, not by orders from officials like Zameer Ahmed Khan,” Surya remarked, explaining that these moves by the Waqf Board threaten the land rights of farming families who have cultivated these lands for years.

A Problem with the Law?

Surya also blamed the Congress party for creating laws that grant the Waqf Board sweeping powers over property. According to Surya, both the Waqf Act of 1955 and an amendment made in 2013 allow the Waqf Board to claim any land as its own. This leaves affected citizens no option but to challenge the Waqf Board’s decision in a special Waqf Tribunal instead of a regular civil court. Surya argued that this setup removes the right of appeal for citizens and puts too much power in the hands of the Waqf Board, calling it a betrayal of citizens' rights across India

Sources: Internet Sources & Twitter X 

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