Government resolves land ownership controversy in Vijayapura district, assures farmers of No land loss
- In Reports
- 02:53 PM, Oct 28, 2024
- Myind Staff
In a swift response to address growing unrest in Honawad, Tikota taluk of Vijayapura district, the Karnataka government has clarified ownership of approximately 1,200 acres of disputed land claimed by the Waqf Board, easing concerns among local farmers. The dispute arose when farmers received notices, citing old government records, to vacate their ancestral land, reportedly designated as Waqf property for the Shah Aminuddin Dargah.
MB Patil, Industries Minister and the district minister-in-charge, clarified on Sunday that only 11 acres of the disputed land actually belongs to the Waqf Board, correcting what he called an “error” in a previous gazette notification. "Of the 11 acres, 10.1 acres are part of a burial ground, while the remaining 24 guntas house a mosque and an Idgah. The rest belongs to farmers," Patil stated, adding that local officials, including the tahsildar and the deputy commissioner, had confirmed these boundaries.
Tensions escalated after Karnataka Waqf Board chairman BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan visited Vijayapura, prompting the issuance of notices and resulting in protests outside the district deputy commissioner's office. Farmers demanded clarity on their land's ownership, fearing they were being asked to vacate land held by their families for generations. Patil assured farmers, "Not an inch of land that doesn't belong to the Waqf Board will be relinquished. Farmers need not worry. The Karnataka Waqf Board cannot claim 1,200 acres of farmers' lands."
According to Patil, confusion stemmed from an error in old notifications, which incorrectly listed Honawad alongside Mahalbagayath in Vijayapura city. He explained, "In the 1974 gazette, the name ‘Honawad’ was mistakenly added in brackets alongside Mahalbagayath in Vijayapura city. After farmers brought this to my notice, I summoned officials on Oct 19 and directed them to correct the mistake." He urged the BJP to avoid politicising the issue, noting that the misidentification would be addressed.
BJP leaders, including MP Tejasvi Surya and MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, had raised concerns over the notices. Surya, after meeting with affected farmers, criticised the Congress government, amplifying worries among local residents. In response, Patil defended the government’s actions, explaining that any mistake on the part of officials would be rectified through an investigation led by the district's deputy commissioner.
The ownership of the 10 acres designated as a burial ground remains sub judice, and Patil encouraged residents to await the court's ruling. He further promised a meeting with district, revenue, and Waqf officials to resolve the issue. Minister H K Patil, who oversees law and parliamentary affairs, announced on Monday the withdrawal of all contested notices. "The government has no intention to convert farmers' land into Waqf property," he assured, adding that the deputy commissioner would investigate the error and ensure action against those responsible.
Meanwhile, the BJP established a committee led by MP Govind Karjol to investigate the situation and report on the matter. Criticising BJP’s prolonged focus on the issue, H K Patil remarked, "If BJP wants to continue it for political reasons, it is not right."
Amidst the unrest, BJP leaders called for the resignation of Waqf minister Zameer Ahmed Khan. Dismissing these calls, Patil said, "Why? If notices were issued wrongly, there is a Deputy Commissioner of the district to rectify it, and there is the government above it. For the mistake committed by a Talati (village accountant) or Tahsildar, it is not right to ask for the minister or anyone else's resignation."
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