MB Patil Accuses BJP of Hindutva Push in Vijayapura

Addressing reporters at Vijayapura on Friday, Patil presented various circulars issued during the BJP's tenure in the state. He asserted that the party had taken various steps to protect and manage Waqf properties.

Patil accused the BJP of double standards.

“In 2019, when the BJP was in power in the state, on September 17, properties belonging to Murughendra Shivabasappa Khyadi, Mashabi Maulasab Mulla, and Subhash Dharmanna Anegundi in the village of Manur, Devarahipparagi taluk, were transferred under the Waqf designation. Similarly, on January 13, 2023, property owned by Ningappa Bhoomanna Shirashad in Marsanahalli village, Indi taluk, was also brought under the Waqf title,” he said.

He added that on January 4, 2010, during the BJP government, a circular was issued by the Revenue Department directing the regularization of records related to Waqf properties. Following this, on May 29 of the same year, a directive was issued by the Chief Secretary to clear encroachments on Waqf properties.

Giving another example, Minister said that in 2011, there was a circular issued by the Principal Secretary of the Minority Welfare Department on April 23, mandating that any compensation for Waqf land acquisition must be compulsorily paid to the Waqf Board's designated account, focusing specifically on the protection and systematic record-keeping of regional Waqf properties in Kalaburagi.

Minister Patil noted that the BJP took similar actions on August 8, 2020 when a directive was issued by the then-Deputy Secretary of the Revenue Department to flag Waqf properties in the Bhoomi software.

On January 8, 2021, the Directorate of Municipal Administration issued a circular to form a task force at the district level to oversee Waqf properties. Later, on January 27, 2021, the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department issued a circular directing officials to flag Waqf properties in the Panchatantra and e-Swathu software to ensure their secure tracking.