Haveri
The former Chief Minister and MP Basavaraj Bommai, issued a stern caution regarding farmers’ land seizures, stating that such actions would lead to a loss of power. He indicated that Karnataka faces potential unrest similar to the Naragund Raitha Bandaya, emphasising that chief minister Siddaramaiah must withdraw the Waqf notification immediately.
At a protest demonstration organised by Shiggaon BJP Mandal, he discussed the Waqf Board’s notices to farmers. He highlighted that survey number 417 in Shiggaon taluk, previously allocated by the Slum Board for housing underprivileged residents, was now being claimed as waqf property. This development has created housing insecurity for Shiggaon’s poor. He noted that 19 acres near the Tadas Lambani Tanda was claimed to be waqf property.
Bommai recounted attending a Waqf Board function where he received information about Congress leaders’ misuse of waqf property. He advised the Board to recover those properties, but his words were misinterpreted as advocating for farmers’ land acquisition. He urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to withdraw both the farmers’ notices and the Waqf Gazette notification, suggesting that the central govt should nullify the Waqf Act. He added, Prime Minister Modi is already working in this direction.
The MP invited farmers from Shiggaon and Savanur to bring their Waqf Board notices to his office, promising legal support. He stated, I will not let an inch of your land be taken. Leave the responsibility of your land to me, and I will protect it.
Notable attendees at the protest included former Ministers CT Ravi, Raju Gowda, CC Patil, former MP Pratap Simmha and former MLAs P Rajeev and Dattatreya Patil Revoor.
