The home minister’s warning came as the BJP plans to intensify its fight against the Congress government over the issue in the days ahead
Team Clarion
BENGALURU – Warning of strict action against any attempts to disturb peace in the state, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Sunday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of using the Waqf issue as a “political weapon”.
The home minister’s warning came as the BJP plans to intensify its fight against the Congress government over the issue in the days ahead. In this regard, the party has constituted three teams which will visit districts and meet those affected by Waqf notices.
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar too has blamed the BJP for trying to “create communal disturbance” on the issue.
On Saturday he said his party would expose the BJP on the Waqf issue as changes in revenue records favouring the Waqf Board were made only during the saffron party’s rule. The BJP’s opposition on the matter was “foolishness” as the government had all the related documents to pin them down, the Deputy CM told reporters. “We will expose them,” he asserted and added that they came to know such aspects only later. Also, the issue did not get into the public domain as everyone was busy with the recent elections.
Talking to reporters in the state capital on Sunday, Parameshwara said the BJP is using the Waqf issue as a political weapon. “It means, there may be efforts for communal flare-ups and disturbing peace. They might be using their yatra (tour) for it. How things will take shape in the future, we cannot speculate now,” a PTI report quoted Parameshwara as saying.
Asked whether the ruling Congress feared that BJP would attempt to create a law and order situation and pave the way for President’s rule in the state, he said, “It is not possible. The police department has been ably maintaining peace in the state. There might have been few incidents, but by and large, we have been successful in maintaining peace.”
A section of farmers and others in certain parts of the state have alleged that their lands were marked as Waqf properties.
With the row escalating, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had directed officials to revoke all notices issued to farmers, and any unauthorised amendments in land records without due notice also be nullified.
Reacting to BJP’s claims that the Lokayukta probe has proved that the 40 per cent commission charge levelled against the previous BJP government by the Congress is completely “false”, Parameshwara said he was not aware of the basis of such claims.
Hitting back at the BJP, the minister said it is wrong to say that Congress came to power only because of the 40 percent commission campaign against the then BJP government, as there were also guarantee schemes among other things.
“It may be BJP’s claim that Congress came to power by constantly levelling 40 per cent commission charge against the previous BJP government. The then state contractors’ association President Kempanna, who is now no more, had written to the PM alleging corruption and 40 percent commission was being collected, during the BJP government. Based on it, Congress as a party, in the interest of the people, had taken up the issue,” he added.
