Waqf issue: JPC chief's talks with Karnataka farmers creates row

Hubballi/Vijayapura: Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) chairperson Jagdambika Pal, who visited north Karnataka districts Thursday, targeted the ruling Congress for marking farmers’ lands as Waqf assets, with the Siddaramaiah administration describing his tour of the state as political "drama”.

Pal, whose JPC is vetting a bill to amend the existing Waqf law, visited Hubballi, Vijayapura and Belagavi.

Accompanied by JPC member and Bangalore South BJP MP Tejasvi Surya, Pal held talks with “aggrieved” farmers from these districts as well as Bidar, Kalaburagi and Bagalkot. He received over 500 petitions from farmers who said the Waqf Board had laid a claim on their lands.

Pal’s visit to Karnataka came right on the heels of the Congress government going on the defensive after scores of farmers found their properties labelled as Waqf assets. The BJP drummed this up and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had to clarify that notices issued to farmers would be withdrawn and changes made to land records reversed.

"The state government may have asked officials not to evict farmers, but will that solve the issue?” Pal said. “Why were notices given to farmers cultivating on lands from 1920 and 1930?” he said, adding that changes were made to land records in favour of Waqf. “What’s the government doing about this? Who’s responsible?”

Without naming Wakf Minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan, Pal said: “What’s the hurry for someone, when a transparent law (is) coming into force, to visit every district and conduct (Waqf) adalats and declare lands as Waqf properties?”

The Waqf Bill will be tabled in the winter session of Parliament, Pal said, adding that the JPC would consider applications received from farmers. “The union government is bringing a transparent amendment to the Waqf Act. The JPC, in its report, will recommend amendments that will ensure that no land belonging to farmers, mutts, temples and historical monuments don’t face trouble,” he said.

In Vijayapura, Union Minister Shobha Karandlade, MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal and others withdrew their four-day-long protest against the Waqf Board after Pal assured them that their concerns would be addressed.

'Can't act unilaterally'

AIMIM MP and JPC member Asaduddin Owaisi slammed Pal's decision to visit Karnataka for "some local matter".

In a tweet, Owaisi said the JPC does not have investigation powers. "Its job is to look into the Bill alone. Moreover, the chairman cannot act unilaterally and the Committee has to act collectively. We had already conducted a consultation in Karnataka. We are bound by parliamentary procedure so we aren’t in a position to explain the questionable conduct of the chairman since the formation of the Committee," he said, urging Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to "take notice of the Chairman’s behaviour".

Defending his visit, Pal said he could go to any part of India to collect opinions as the JPC chairperson.

Siddaramaiah described Pal's visit as "political" while his deputy DK Shivakumar called it a "drama company" tour.

"It's not the JPC, but only BJP members who have come to do politics," Shivakumar said. Home Minister G Parameshwara also pointed out that it was only Pal visiting the state by "disregarding rules".