The Bharatiya Janata Party has announced a state-wide protest on Monday over the Waqf land issue even as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has directed officials to immediately retract all notices sent to farmers in this regard.
Taking a dig at the BJP’s move, Siddaramaiah said on Sunday that the motive behind the saffron party’s decision is purely political with no genuine interest in protecting the welfare of farmers.
The BJP's true nature is to stoke communal strife for political gain, the chief minister said, adding that the saffron party’s actions threaten the harmony of Karnataka.
"I call on the people of Karnataka to reject this divisive, destructive agenda and stand with us in building a Karnataka that unites, progresses, and prospers for all," he said.
READ - CM Siddaramaiah orders immediate withdrawal of Waqf land notices to farmers
The state has been witnessing a raging controversy after a section of farmers alleged that their lands were marked as Waqf properties. The BJP alleged that Waqf law is being misused in the state and called for examination of all state records to ensure justice for farmers.
As the controversy snowballed into a major political storm, Siddaramaiah on Saturday instructed officials to immediately withdraw all notices sent to farmers concerning Waqf land issues.
The chief minister expressed his dissatisfaction with recent actions by certain officials and emphasised that no disturbances should be caused to the farmers.
The BJP, however, has decided to go on with their protest plan while demanding the sacking of Waqf Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan from the cabinet.
"I urge the people of Karnataka to see through the Karnataka BJP's true intentions. Even after our government ordered the immediate withdrawal of notices issued to farmers over Waqf property issues, BJP leaders persist in their protests. Their motives are purely political, with no genuine interest in protecting the welfare of our farmers," Siddaramaiah said.
The chief minister further claimed that issuing notices for property clarification is a standard administrative procedure. The governments under former BJP Chief Ministers B S Yediyurappa, D V Sadanand Gowda, Jagadish Shetta, and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy, too had issued similar notices regarding Waqf properties, he said.
