New kind of ''Jihad'' in Karnataka through Waqf Board, alleges Union Minister Pralhad Joshi
Ballari (PTI): Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Friday alleged that a new kind of "Jihad" is taking place across Karnataka with the Waqf Board claiming ownership of lands belonging to farmers, temples and others.
Hitting out at the Congress government headed by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, he said the ruling party has reached "height of appeasement politics," and alleged that it has in a way made appeasement of minorities its "goal."
"Across the state a new kind of 'Jihad' is happening through Waqf. Looking at the conduct of the Congress party and Siddaramaiah, they come across as hypocrites...," Joshi told reporters here.
Congress leaders are claiming that BJP had promised in its manifesto that it will protect the Waqf properties, he said. "Yes. We had said. It is on record...what we have said is existing Waqf properties that have been encroached upon and looted by senior Congress leaders will be saved."
"They (Congress leaders) have taken illegal gratification worth thousands of crores (of rupees) from these lands, in the form of lease and rent," Joshi alleged.
The Anwar Manippady report says that Waqf properties have been misused by very senior Congress leaders, Joshi said. "We had said that we will protect those lands. What are you (Congress govt) doing now? lands of Mutts and temples are being claimed by Waqf. I'm asking Siddaramaiah, what are you trying to do?"
"This is a big conspiracy. For the Congress party, the state and country don't matter. They have a soft corner for terrorists...what is happening? What has happened to the Congress party, have they lost their mind?," he asked.
Manippady, as the then chairman of the Karnataka State Minority Commission, had prepared the report and submitted it to the government in March 2012 when the BJP was in power. It was later tabled in the legislature.
"What is now happening (now) is, using Waqf, lands belonging to farmers, individuals, temples, Mutts, and in some cases entire villages, are being claimed," Joshi alleged.
There were allegations by a section of farmers from Vijayapura district that their lands were marked as Waqf properties. Similar charges have surfaced from a few other places subsequently, and also by some organisations and religious institutions like Mutts.
With the row escalating, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, directed officials that all notices issued to farmers be immediately revoked, and any unauthorised amendments in land records without due notice must also be nullified.
Joshi also claimed that the Congress government in the state is now preparing to withdraw cases booked in KG Halli and DJ halli riots cases, in which a Congress Dalit MLA's house was burned. "I have credible information that they are withdrawing those cases also."
He pointed out that in spite of the ban on Students' Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and the court upholding it, 125 cases against them were withdrawn by the Congress government earlier. Also, criminal cases filed in Hubballi riot incidents involving a mob attack on the police in 2022, including those booked under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), were withdrawn recently.
Joshi expressed confidence about NDA winning all the three Assembly seats that are going for by-polls in the state on November 13.
He said in the coming Assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, NDA's win will "surpass" its victory in the recent Haryana poll.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Karnataka: GBA city corporation polls likely between June 14 and 24
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka State Election Commissioner G S Sangreshi on Friday said elections to the five city corporations under the GBA will be held anytime between June 14 and June 24.
He said the exact date for the polls will be announced after a week, asserting that the power to postpone the elections, as requested by GBA authorities, lies with the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court had directed the Karnataka government and the State Election Commission to conduct Bengaluru local body elections by June 30.
On Friday, the SEC held a consultation meeting with the GBA Chief Commissioner and commissioners of the five city corporations regarding the election schedule, as per the provisions of the GBA Act.
“During the meeting, I informed GBA officials that only the election date has to be fixed, as all other measures and formalities for conducting the polls have already been completed,” Sangreshi said.
“They requested the Commission to consider factors such as rains, exams, census work, SIR, and manpower shortages while fixing the date and sought additional time,” he added.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, he said, “I told them this meeting was not for seeking time. Elections to the five corporations under the GBA must be held before June 30, as directed by the Supreme Court, and a compliance report must be submitted to the court. I do not have the power to postpone the elections as requested.”
The Supreme Court has already given a “final opportunity,” and both the SEC and the government must comply with its directions, the State Election Commissioner said.
He asked GBA officials to suggest suitable dates between June 14 and June 24.
“While stating that they are ready for elections, the officials highlighted operational challenges, including manpower shortages. However, I have informed them that the elections will have to be held between June 14 and June 24. After a week, I will announce the final date,” he said.
Reiterating that he does not have the power to postpone the elections, Sangreshi said the authority rests with the Supreme Court, and elections must be conducted as scheduled.
“We have consulted the GBA as per the rules. It is up to them to suggest a date within the given window. If they need more time, they must approach the court. Our responsibility is to fix the date and complete the polls before June 30,” he said.
The matter regarding manpower and other concerns raised by GBA officials is already before the Supreme Court, and the State Election Commission has also filed a petition in this regard. The case is yet to be heard.
“Since the matter has not come up for hearing, the earlier order remains binding. Therefore, preparations are underway,” he added.
The tenure of the previous elected body under the erstwhile Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) ended on September 10, 2020, and since then, a government-appointed administrator has been managing its day-to-day affairs.
Bengaluru was divided into five municipal corporations—Central, East, West, North, and South—under the Greater Bengaluru Authority in September 2025, replacing the BBMP.
Sangreshi had earlier said that elections to the five corporations would be conducted using ballot papers instead of Electronic Voting Machines.
This follows the Congress government’s decision last September to recommend the use of ballot papers in all future panchayat and urban local body elections, citing concerns over declining public confidence in EVMs.
The state government subsequently enacted the Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Act, 2026, paving the way for the use of ballot papers in local body elections.
