• Source:JND
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Days after several sections of farmers in multiple parts of Karnataka alleged that they were slapped with notices marking their lands as Waqf properties, the Bharatiya Janata Party held a statewide protest on Monday, accusing the state Congress government of 'land jihad'. The opposition party also demanded the sacking of Minister of Housing, Waqf and Minority Affairs Zameer Ahamed Khan over the notices to the farmers.

The notices were later withdrawn on Saturday following the orders by the Chief Minister. The CM also directed officials to nullify any unauthorised amendments in land records without due notice.

Today, reacting to BJP's state-wide protest against his government, Siddaramaiah termed it 'nothing but politics'. He further said that the party has made false accusations against his government.

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"BJP never fights on issues, they always make false allegations, and they protest for the sake of politics. Where is the issue? Basavaraj Bommai (BJP MP and former CM) had earlier said every inch of Waqf property that has been encroached has to be recovered, now he is speaking against it for political reasons," Siddarmaiah said.

What Farmers Said?

Farmers in multiple parts of Karnataka had claimed that their lands were marked as Waqf properties and they were given notice. Peasants from Vijayapura district and several other places lodged their protest against the decision of the state government.

While BJP state President B Y Vijayendra led the protest in Ballari, Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly R Ashoka took part in it at K R Puram here.

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CM Siddaramaiah Responds

"I have said very clearly after holding a meeting that notices issued to farmers should be immediately revoked, and any unauthorised amendments in land records without due notice must also be nullified. And farmers should not be evicted for any reason, whether they are Muslims or Hindus or Christians anyone else," Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Monday.

Responding to whether the decision to withdraw the notices was taken under pressure from rival BJP, the CM said: "They too had issued notices in 216 cases when (B S) Yediyurappa, (D V) Sandanada Gowda, Jagadish Shettar (of BJP), and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy were CM, why?"