Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Mar 20: The resolution passed by the Congress-led Karnataka government in the legislative assembly opposing the Centre’s proposed amendment to the Waqf Act has sparked a political row, with the BJP alleging that the move is aimed at protecting encroachments.
While the Congress has demanded the withdrawal of the amendment, the BJP has accused the ruling party of shielding its leaders who have allegedly acquired properties worth thousands of crores illegally.
BJP state president B Y Vijayendra, commenting on the development, said in Bengaluru on Thursday, "Yesterday (March 19), the Congress government, led by chief minister Siddaramaiah, passed a resolution forcefully opposing the Central government’s amendment to the Waqf Act."
He claimed that the move was politically motivated. "Prime minister Narendra Modi is working towards bringing transparency and accountability in the Waqf Act, but Siddaramaiah wants to protect land grabbers and the land mafia who have exploited lands belonging to farmers in the name of the Waqf Board," he alleged.
Vijayendra further accused Congress leaders of being involved in a Waqf scam and said that the Siddaramaiah-led government was trying to shield them. "The BJP will expose this government before the people of Karnataka," he asserted.
He claimed that under the current tenure, Congress leaders had misused the Waqf Act. "A gang of Congress politicians is trying to illegally acquire properties worth thousands of crores under the guise of the Waqf Board, and the Congress government is protecting them," he charged.
Terming the resolution passed by the Karnataka government "unconstitutional," Vijayendra stated, "Siddaramaiah wants to protect those who have looted land under the Waqf Board in the state. The BJP strongly condemns this and will take the issue to the people."
He also criticized the Congress government for its alleged appeasement politics, recalling past decisions such as the Shaadi Bhagya scheme and the celebration of Tipu Jayanti. "No other state in the country observed Tipu Jayanti—only Karnataka did, and that was because of Siddaramaiah," he remarked.
He further accused the government of protecting land grabbers and granting a 4 per cent reservation for Muslims, which he called "unfortunate." "We will oppose both these moves on the streets," he added.
Congress defends resolution
Responding to the BJP’s allegations, minister for health Dinesh Gundu Rao maintained that opposing the Central government’s Waqf Bill amendment was not an act of appeasement.
"The BJP is deliberately targeting minorities and using every means to harass them," he said, speaking to the media at Vidhana Soudha.
"The Waqf Act allows decisions to be made at the state level, but the Centre is now trying to take away these powers. This is not correct, which is why we have expressed our serious reservations. The parliamentary commission at the Centre functioned in an undemocratic manner—it was a one-party show. We cannot tolerate this dictatorial approach," Rao stated.
"As representatives of the people, we have made our stance clear. The proposed amendment to the Waqf Act is blatantly incorrect, and the Government of India should withdraw it," he asserted.
When asked about allegations regarding false claims on Hindu properties by the Waqf Board, Rao said, "The Waqf property issue is an old one. Any dispute should be resolved legally. No one supports any illegality, including by the Waqf Board."
"If anyone is engaging in illegal activities, action should be taken. However, the government cannot usurp powers and act beyond the law. That is precisely what we have conveyed in our resolution," he added.
Minister for medical education Sharan Prakash Patil also criticized the Centre, stating that the BJP-led government under prime minister Narendra Modi was not inclusive. "They want to create mistrust among people and use this for political gains. There is a general perception that the amendment deliberately targets minorities, and in this context, we are opposing it," he said.