"Waqf's property should be nationalized, declared national property": BJP MLA Basanagouda R Patil

Patil's demand was made during a meeting with Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) Chairman Jagdambika Pal. After Pal visited Karnataka, Patil said that 10 to 15 thousand farmers and public representatives told them about the manner in which lakhs of acres of land were grabbed by Siddaramaiah.

Speaking to ANI, Patil said "Today, the chairman of JPC, Jagdambika Pal and the committee member Tejasvi Surya came to Vijaypura. Around 10 to 15 thousand famers and public representatives told them about the way the lakhs of acres of land of the Hindus and farmers were grabbed by Siddaramiah. We also demanded that Waqf's property should be nationalized and declared as a national property."

Further, he said that the JPC Chairman assured the farmers and representatives that the demands would be fulfilled.

"We were given assurance that our demands would be fulfilled. He also promised us that we would be called to Delhi and be given a chance to speak in the committee meeting," he added.

On Thursday, the state Minister and Congress leader Priyank Kharge stated that it was a "BJP-sponsored committee" visiting the state.

Speaking to ANI, Priyank Kharge questioned the committee's composition, asking, "If it's a JPC, then where are the other committee members? It is a BJP committee. If it's a Joint Parliamentary Committee, where are the other members (of Parliament)? What is a former MP doing in that committee meeting? What are other MPs, who have no connection with the JPC, doing in that meeting?... A Joint Parliamentary Committee means the committee members should be present. This is nothing but a BJP-sponsored committee that has come today," he remarked.

On Thursday morning, JPC Chairman Jagdambika Pal met various farmers' organisations in Hubballi, Karnataka, and announced that a fact-finding report would be presented in the upcoming winter session of Parliament. He was accompanied by BJP MP Tejasvi Surya.

"We will submit the report in the upcoming winter session of Parliament," Pal stated to ANI, adding that he was in Karnataka to meet with farmers after receiving an invitation from BJP MP Tejasvi Surya.

The BJP has alleged that Waqf designations were added to land records for 44 properties in Indi and Chadachan taluks of Vijayapura district without proper notification, following a meeting between Karnataka Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan and district officials.

However, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced that he has instructed officials to stop issuing notices to farmers and to withdraw those already issued. (ANI)