Bengaluru: Stepping up pressure on the state govt over the waqf issue, BJP functionaries led by state president BY Vijayendra staged statewide protests Monday, seeking withdrawal of the 1974 gazette notification pertaining to waqf properties and the resignation of waqf minister Zameer Ahmed Khan.
Protests were held in all district headquarters, including Bengaluru.
Vijayendra, who led protests in Ballari along with senior BJP functionaries Janardhan Reddy, Govind Karjol, and B Sreeramulu, criticised the govt for trying to "usurp" properties of Hindus and "gift" them to Muslims. "During the Lok Sabha elections, PM Modi said if Congress is voted to power, it will take over properties of Hindus. His words are coming true now," Vijayendra said. "Hundreds of farmers have been issued notices to part with their land, claiming them as waqf properties."
Vijayendra said initially the govt denied issuing notices. "But when farmers protested, the CM directed officials not to issue notices," he said. "It means notices were issued. Now they (notices) have been withdrawn, keeping bypolls in mind. What is the guarantee that notices will not be re-issued once elections are over?"
Opposition Leader R Ashoka, who protested in KR Puram in Bengaluru, said ‘Waqf Jihad' is being carried out and land belonging to Hindus is being usurped just as Hindu girls were converted through ‘Love Jihad'. "BJP will not allow this to happen," he said. He said there is an urgent need to amend waqf laws to prevent the Waqf board from claiming ownership of properties of Hindus.
High drama unfolded in Dharwad after Pramod Mutalik of Sriram Sene and a group of farmers tried to picket the Waqf Board office. Local police prevented protesters from entering the office, which triggered a heated argument between protesters and police.