What is the recent waqf land controversy about?

The issue surrounding waqf claims in Karnataka of late is interpreted by various actors as land grab by one or the other party or mistakes in gazette notifications. Waqf is an Islamic endowment, usually land or other assets donated by Muslims in the name of God for charitable purposes. Auqaf is the plural of waqf. The issue gained traction two weeks ago when 124 farmers in Honavada village in Tikota taluk of Vijayapura district received notices by the local tehsildar informing them that their lands were being claimed by the Karnataka State Board of Auqaf (KSBA). A few days prior, Minister for Housing, Minority Welfare and Waqf BZ Zameer Ahmed had held a meeting with the Vijayapura district Deputy Commissioner (DC) and tehsildar, raising the issue of large scale encroachments of waqf property, an oft-cited problem across the country.

Local BJP MLA from Vijayapura Basangouda Patil Yatnal was invited to the meeting but he didn’t turn up. A few days later, he claimed there was an attempt to grab farmers’ lands. He also announced an anti-waqf campaign and the BJP has staged several protests over the issue since.

Gazette mistake blamed; On October 26, Vijayapura district in-charge minister MB Patil clarified that only 11 of the 1,200 acres in Honavada village is waqf property, adding that the issue was a gazette notification mistake. He said that the 11 acres included a burial ground covering 10 acres and 14 guntas, with an Idgah, mosques, and other structures on the remaining 24 guntas, adding that the remaining land belonged to farmers. Patil said gazette notifications on waqf properties in Vijayapura district were issued in 1974, 1978, and 2016. He added that waqf property existed in Mahalbagayata of Vijayapura district. However, the name “Honavada” was mistakenly added in brackets after “Mahalbagayata” in the gazette, the minister said.

On October 28, Law Minister HK Patil assured that the notices issued to farmers of Honavada village would be withdrawn. The following day Chief Minister Siddaramaiah repeated the assurance, adding that no farmer would be evicted. Patil has since released notices by the tehsildar in Vijayapura district issued under BJP rule in 2022 to farmers informing them of their lands being claimed by KSBA, terming the saffron party hypocrites. Revenue Department officials said the farmers can secure their lands by submitting proof of ownership to DCs or produce evidence that they have defeated waqf claims in court or get the KSBA to forego their claim.

Issue raging in other districts; The issue has also cropped up in Ballari and Chitradurga districts among others. About two months, eight farmers in Bommanahalu village of Ballari district received notices from the local tehsildar pertaining to the waqf board claim to around 50 acres of land. In November 2023, Jamia Masjid of Challakere town wrote to the city Council, claiming that the waqf land near a cemetery was encroached by Madiga Dalit workers. Later, the local MLA and DC assured a document review and promised that no one would be evicted.