LoP Ashoka alleges temple lands marked as Waqf

Bengaluru, Nov 1 (FN Agency) The Karnataka BJP has raised serious allegations against the state government, claiming that Hindu temples, along with agricultural lands, have been marked as Waqf properties. The party’s Leader of the Opposition (LoP), R Ashoka, announced plans for a significant protest on November 4, targeting both the Waqf Board and the state government for allegedly encroaching on farmers’ lands and temple properties. Addressing the media on Thursday, Ashoka detailed the BJP’s concerns, stating, “After Vijayapura, temple properties in Kolar are being marked as Waqf properties. This is a clear encroachment on both farmers’ lands and Hindu temples.” He asserted that the encroachments are not just the work of land grabbers but involve the government itself, calling for strong protests from farmer organisations. Ashoka further invoked historical references, claiming, ““In the past, Muslim rulers imposed their religion by force; now, similar land grabbing is taking place with the support of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.”

Responding to Siddaramaiah’s remarks regarding the BJP’s failure to resolve issues logically, Ashoka retorted, “We protested, and hence the cases were filed against the Chief Minister. The Lokayukta and ED are investigating; even his supporters are being probed. This fight has reached its logical conclusion, and now we’ll pursue it legally.” He expressed solidarity with farmers protesting against the Waqf Board, accusing the Chief Minister of lacking the courage to take action against officials issuing notices to farmers. “This government is a laughingstock, running things like the Tughlaq era. Two of their guarantee schemes have turned out to be a flop,” he said. The upcoming protest is expected to draw significant attention, with the BJP aiming to rally support against what it perceives as government overreach and mismanagement in Karnataka.