Bengaluru: Thousands of farmers from the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) gathered at Freedom Park on Tuesday for the 'Rayatha Garjana Rally' demanding the repeal of the Waqf Act. The rally, supported by BJP Karnataka president and MLA BY Vijayendra, aimed to protest against the Karnataka Waqf Board's alleged arbitrary claims over farmers' lands, temples and public properties.
The farmers, led by a Mutt (temple) chief, raised concerns that the Waqf Board was unlawfully designating lands, including agricultural plots, temple properties and even public spaces, as Waqf properties without proper documentation or notice. Protest leaders accused the Karnataka Waqf Board of bypassing constitutional land ownership rights, particularly those under the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964.
"Farmers' lands, temples and public properties are being arbitrarily declared as Waqf properties without proper documentation. This is an attack on constitutional rights and we demand immediate justice," said Swamiji, the leader of the protest. The BKS, affiliated with the RSS, also voices concerns over the state's recent directives that required properties to be recorded as Waqf within a specific timeframe. Protesters warned that these actions were destabilising the livelihoods of farmers and other marginalised groups, with one farmer's suicide in Haveri district already attributed to the growing land disputes.