Cancelling gazette notification is the only solution to waqf row, says Chalavadi

Leader of Opposition calls for cancellation of gazette notification to resolve waqf land dispute, highlighting concerns over farmers' rights.

Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy has said that the only solution to solving the waqf row is cancellation of the gazette notification pertaining to it.

Addressing a press conference, along with BJP leaders, in Hubballi on Wednesday, he said that based on the direction of the State government officials have made changes in mutation entries.

“While the courts have the supreme authority, the Congress government has given that authority to the Waqf Board because of which people, mainly farmers, are facing problems. If the gazette notification on waqf land is not rescinded, the farmers will have to lose their land,” he said.

Mr. Narayanaswamy said that while Waqf Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan has said that he is doing it on the direction of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, the latter has been saying that the mutation entry in column 11 will be removed.

“Farmers will get their land only when it is decided through gazette. The Congress government is grabbing land of farmers and also of religious institutions. It should immediately rescind the 1974 gazette notification on waqf land,” he demanded.

During the press conference, BJP MLC C.T. Ravi urged Mr. Siddaramaiah to make his stand clear on whether he is in favour of the Constitution or Shariat law.

He said that the Congress-led government in the State has conspired to grab 90,000 acres “which is nothing but Land Jihad”.