Amid a raging controversy, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday instructed officials to immediately withdraw all notices sent to farmers concerning Waqf land issues.
The move came after a high-level meeting the CM had with senior officials from the Revenue department, the Minority Welfare department, and the Karnataka Board of Waqfs.
Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil and Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda also attended the meeting.
"Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has issued a strict directive for the immediate retraction of all notices sent to farmers about Waqf land, emphasising that no disruption should be caused to them," said an official statement issued by the CMO.
The chief minister expressed his dissatisfaction with recent actions by certain officials and emphasised that no disturbances should be caused to the farmers.
He also expressed concerns that the opposition JD(S) and BJP were allegedly using the Waqf issue for political gain, potentially disturbing peace in the state.
All notices issued to farmers on land records related to Waqf properties must be withdrawn without delay, the CM instructed in the directive. The officials have been instructed to avoid harassing farmers or causing any issues related to lands under their possession.
The order further said that any unauthorized modifications to the land records (pahani) without prior notice or legal procedure should be immediately nullified.
The BJP alleges that Waqf law is being misused in the state. Former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai has called for examination of all state records to ensure justice for farmers.