Sat Jan 04 15:52:56 UTC 2025: ## Karnataka Government Registers Thousands of Acres of Land for Hindu Temples Amidst BJP Protests
**Bengaluru, January 4, 2025** – The Karnataka Congress government has registered 15,413.17 acres of land in the name of various government-owned Hindu temples across the state. This action comes amidst ongoing protests by the BJP, who accuse the government of inaction regarding alleged encroachment of Waqf board land.
Transport and Muzrai Minister Ramalinga Reddy announced that the government had regularized the land, with significant acreage registered in districts including Chikkamagaluru (1435.12 acres), Hassan (1633.31 acres), and Mysuru (1164.17 acres). A detailed district-wise breakdown of the registered land was released by the department.
Minister Reddy stated that the land registered in the name of temples dramatically increased from 3,544 acres in 2023 to the current figure, with a significant surge of 11,869 acres registered in 2024 alone. This follows a survey of over 8,000 temple properties ordered by the department to recover encroached land. Further surveys are planned to encompass another 25,000 temples over the next two years, suggesting further land registration in the future. The minister attributed the need for this action to encroachment by various agencies and land grabbers. The BJP’s protests focus on the alleged encroachment of Waqf board land in several districts, creating a backdrop of political tension surrounding this land registration initiative.
First Piper 