Sat Nov 02 09:56:59 UTC 2024: ## Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah Backtracks on Waqf Land Notices Amidst Farmer Protests
**Bengaluru, November 2, 2024:** In a significant development, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has ordered the immediate withdrawal of notices served to farmers regarding the reclassification of their land as Waqf Board property. The decision comes in the wake of mounting pressure from farmers and the opposition BJP, who have planned a statewide protest on November 4th against the move.
The controversy erupted after Revenue Department officials in several districts, including Vijayapura, Dharwad, and Haveri, issued notices to farmers, claiming their land was registered as Waqf Board property. The Waqf Board has been asserting its ownership over land cultivated by farmers for decades, causing widespread anxiety and fear of eviction.
Expressing his disappointment with the situation, CM Siddaramaiah convened a meeting with Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H. K. Patil, and officials from the Minority Department and Waqf Board. The Chief Minister asserted that officials should not cause any further problems for farmers and that the notices must be withdrawn immediately. He further emphasized that farmers will not be evicted from their land.
Siddaramaiah accused the opposition BJP and JD(S) of using the issue for political gain ahead of the by-elections in three Karnataka constituencies and the Assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand. He claimed that the opposition was deliberately trying to create unrest in society.
While the Chief Minister has now taken a step back from the controversial land classification, the issue is likely to remain a point of contention in the upcoming elections. The opposition parties are expected to continue their protests, demanding a complete resolution to the land ownership dispute.
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