17-969-acres-wakf-property-encroached-in-karnataka

Karnataka’s Minister for Wakf and Minority Welfare, B. Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan, told the Legislative Assembly on Monday that 17,969 acres of Wakf property in the state have been encroached upon, with most of the encroachments allegedly carried out by members of the Muslim community. The minister was responding to a question raised by Afzalpur Congress MLA M. Y. Patil during the Question Hour.

“Across the state, the total Wakf property amounts to 1,12,860 acres, of which only 20,054 acres remain in our possession. As many as 17,969 acres have been encroached upon, 47,263 acres have gone under the Inam Abolition Act, and 23,627 acres fall under the Land Reforms Act,” Khan said.

He added that after the Indian National Congress formed the government and he assumed charge of the department, Wakf Adalats were organised across the state to address and remove encroachments on Wakf land.

 

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Khan noted that the 1,12,860 acres of Wakf land had not been granted by the government, but were donated by private individuals and organisations for the welfare of the community. He also said most of the encroachments had been carried out by Muslims themselves rather than by temples or members of other communities.

“Encroachments on Wakf land are not by outsiders; they are mostly by Muslims themselves. Wakf Adalats were held to remove these encroachments, but the Bharatiya Janata Party turned it into an issue,” he said, adding that steps were being taken to resolve such cases.

Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka intervened during the discussion, stating that the BJP’s objections were not about removing encroachments by Muslims on Wakf land. Instead, he said the party was concerned about cases where farmers’ land, properties belonging to schools — including the institution attended by M. Visvesvaraya — and in some instances temple land were allegedly being claimed as Wakf property.

Ashoka added that the BJP supported an investigation into the encroachment of Wakf properties. In response, Khan clarified that the government was not attempting to take over any temples or educational institutions by declaring them as Wakf property.

“The Wakf Adalats were conducted only to identify encroachments by private individuals, mostly Muslims,” he said.