Waqf land grab: Are Karnataka government’s promises enough for damage control?

The debate surrounding land ownership belonging to Karnataka farmers or the Waqf Board continues. Despite Siddaramaiah going on record to assure farmers there would be no evictions, the farmers are still distrustful of the administration. And as the opposition keeps the topic fresh by furnishing more instances of land grabbing by Waqf, the Congress-led government is in damage-control mode.
In addition to reports that the Waqf Board has claimed close to 15,000 acres of land in Karnataka’s Vijayapura district, sources suggest that similar incidents are surfacing in Chitradurga, Yadgir, and Dharwad districts. Details about the Waqf Board claiming 50 acres of land in Ballari also emerged. With this, the government’s struggle to maintain its support base among farmers is becoming increasingly evident.

During a press conference on Tuesday, Siddaramaiah insisted that “no farmer will be evicted from his land,” attempting to quell fears of widespread land seizures. However, many remain sceptical of these promises. This declaration came amid allegations from farmers, particularly in Vijayapura, that their properties had been incorrectly marked as Waqf lands.
Deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar also supported this, and said, “the Revenue Minister and CM have clarified which properties are Waqf, and even during the BJP government, similar notices were issued for Waqf lands. Now, we are cautious about these developments. We will withdraw all the notices issued and ensure that farmers’ properties are protected. Farmers’ land will remain with the farmers.”
The controversy has been fueled by statements from industry and Vijayapura district in-charge minister MB Patil, who accused the previous government of spreading misinformation to promote a “fake pro-Hindutva” agenda. Patil revealed that notices affecting over 1,200 acres in Honavada of Tikota taluk were a result of a gazette notification error, clarifying that only 11 acres are genuinely Waqf property. To address these concerns, a task force led by the deputy commissioner has also been formed.
While Congress leaders have claimed that these designations originated during the previous BJP regime, others within the party attribute the chaos to errors made by tahsildars. The blame game is of no help to the farmers, who have been protesting against the Waqf Board’s claims for weeks.
Siddaramaiah’s pledge to withdraw any notices related to land ownership and investigate further has done little to assuage growing fears.
Frustration is palpable among farmers, many of whom feel misled. “We voted for this government, hoping our lives would improve. Instead, we’re facing threats of eviction,” said Arvind Kulakarni, state secretary of the All Karnataka Farmers Association. He went on to describe the distress felt by farmers during the festive season of Deepavali, saying, “This should be a time of celebration, but instead, our lives have turned dark with these threats.”

Arvind Kulakarni, Secretary of All Karnataka Farmers Association, says protests against Waqf Board’s claims will continue.

As the unrest continues to spread, farmers remain sceptical of the government’s promises. Kulakarni stated, “We don’t know when they will take a U-turn. We have no trust in them. They should provide written assurance that they will not seize farmers’ land. If we stop protesting, they might do this again.”
He also pointed out that many other districts including Dharwad, Davangere, Yadgir, Gulbarga, and Bidar, report receiving notices claiming their lands are Waqf properties. This expansion of the dispute is heightening fears and uncertainties among farmers, he said.
The issue has sparked criticism from the opposition as well. BJP state president Vijayendra warned of dire consequences if the Waqf Board proceeded with land acquisitions, while Union Minister Pralhad Joshi called for the suspension of tahsildars responsible for issuing the notices.
The Karnataka government, having come to power with significant backing from the farming community, now finds itself under increasing pressure. Can the government salvage its relationship with the farming community, or has the damage already been done?