JPC chairperson with MP Tejasvi Surya, listening to farmers’ concerns
Chairperson of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 and BJP MP Jagdambika Pal visited Vijayapura and Hubballi on Thursday, 7 November over the Waqf row.
He visited after a request from BJP MP Tejasvi Surya, one of the members of the JPC, to listen to the grievances of farmers and mutts slapped with notices by the Waqf Board, claiming the ownership of their lands.
After arriving at Vijayapura, on the way to meet with the aggrieved farmers and pontiffs of several mutts, the BJP MP spoke to the media about his reasons.
#Karnataka: Joint Parliamentary Committee on Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, chairperson and @BJP4Karnataka MP Jagdambika Pal visits Vijayapura over the ongoing Waqf land row.
JPC chairman Pal turned up at Vijayapura on the request of #Bengaluru South MP @Tejasvi_Surya, who is… pic.twitter.com/TeLWqk3YrS
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) November 7, 2024
“Farmers are agitating because their land has been claimed by the Waqf Board out of nowhere. I have received documents from several farmers’ organisations on the ownership details of lands that received notice. One of the JPC members, Tejasvi Surya explained in detail the farmers’ grievances while in Delhi,” he explained.
On why these notices are concerning, the JPC chairperson added, “Even historical monuments that are protected by the ASI are now being claimed as Waqf properties.”
Jagdambika said the purpose of the visit is fact-finding and that he plans to meet with several farmers organisations.
Related: Karnataka BJP launches state-wide protest over Waqf Board’s notices to farmers
Indefinite strike continues
Meanwhile, an indefinite strike condemning the notices served to farmers in front of the District Administrative office in Vijayapura is ongoing. It was launched by Bijapur city MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal on 4 November, when BJP staged a state-wide protest against the notices.
Union Minister for State for Labour and Employment Shobha Karandlaje and other local leaders have been protesting along with him since the beginning of the week.
Also Read: Behind toys and greenery, Channapatna tells sordid tales of apathy as bypoll turns up heat
It is a drama company, says DK Shivakumar
Commenting on the JPC chairperson’s visit to Vijayapura, Karnataka Dy CM DK Shivakumar called the JPC a “drama company.”
Speaking to reporters at Hubballi, he criticised Jagdambika Pal’s unannounced visit and noted that he was only visiting as a BJP leader and not in his official capacity.
“It is a drama company. Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) needs to act responsibly. It should inform the state government and officials before a visit. The chairperson has come alone because he is attending to party affairs,” Shivakumar said.
Criticising the decision to be accompanied by party leaders instead of JPC members, the Congress leaders pointed out, “He has been accompanied by a parliamentarian. Is Bommai or Somanna a JPC member? Somanna, as a Union Minister, cannot be a part of the JPC.”
Recalling that similar notices were sent when Basavaraj Bommai was the Karnataka CM to Dharwad, Shivakumar said that there is evidence and record of such notices being sent.
“The CM has already sent instructions to withdraw all notices. Revenue Minister (Krishna Byre Gowda) has been directed to free the land (from Waqf). There is no question of taking away farmers’ land. We are here to save farmers,” he said.
It is important to note that there have been several reassurances from Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and Cabinet ministers that the notices issued to farmers would be withdrawn at the earliest. “There might be certain errors due to technical issues from our end. We will address these issues. The government is committed to protect the lands of farmers,” the Deputy CM reiterated.
(Edited by Neena with inputs from Mahesh M Goudar)
