By A Staff Reporter —
Bengaluru: A fresh controversy has emerged in Karnataka over land ownership rights, with BJP spokesperson Prakash Sesharaghavachar claiming that farmers in Vijayapura have been adversely affected. According to Sesharaghavachar, farmers in the region recently presented RTC (Record of Rights, Tenancy, and Crops) certificates that identified their lands as Waqf property, sparking outrage and concern among locals.
Sesharaghavachar accused the Karnataka government of failing to protect farmers’ interests, saying, “This government is anti-farmer and to safeguard their votebanks, they won't hesitate to sacrifice the lands of the farmers to the Waqf board.” The BJP spokesperson alleged that state officials are engaged in “damage control” and accused Karnataka Minister MB Patil, a Vijayapura native, of downplaying the issue by labeling BJP’s reaction as politicizing.
Patil denied BJP’s accusations, stating that the government has no intention of reallocating farmers' lands and criticized the BJP for stirring unnecessary controversy. Meanwhile, the state government has reportedly initiated measures to address public concerns, promising that farmers’ rights and interests will remain secure.