Govt will not remove temples built on Waqf properties, CM Siddaramaiah tells Assembly
Belagavi (Karnataka), Dec 18: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday assured the Karnataka Assembly that the government will not remove those temples which are built on Waqf properties.
In case notices have been served to them, then they will be withdrawn, he said.
During a discussion on the issue of the Waqf Board issuing eviction notices to farmers, temples and many other individuals, the Chief Minister said, "If temples have been built on Waqf properties then we will not remove them. I am making it very clear. In case any notice has been issued, they (notices) will be withdrawn."
As the raging Waqf issue echoed in the Assembly with the BJP raising it, the Waqf and Minority Affairs Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan clarified that if notices were given to farmers and temples then they will be withdrawn.
The Chief Minister too reiterated Khan's statement and said no farmer will be evicted from the land they have been tilling.
The BJP legislator Araga Jnanendra demanded that properties mentioned in government records as Waqf should also be removed as the mere withdrawal of notices will not serve the purpose.
The Leader of the Opposition BJP, R. Ashoka, justified the demand by saying that there were 110 Kuruba families in the Krishna Raja constituency, in Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's home district of Mysuru, who have been running from pillar to post to get the notices removed. They have submitted several memoranda to Siddaramaiah, but to no avail.
He said there are hundreds of such instances where people face hardship by such notices.
Minister Khan reminded the BJP that it was in its manifesto in 2014 there was a promise to remove encroachment on Waqf properties.
The Chief Minister underlined the need to save the Waqf properties saying that there were 1.10 lakh acres of Waqf properties in the state which now reduced to just 20,000 acres due to various provisions of law such as the Inam Abolition Act as well as encroachment.
Jnanendra said, "We (BJP) too support saving the Waqf properties but our point is why notices were given now." Siddaramaiah said the situation was such that there was a need to save the properties and notices were given as there is a Central law for it.
The clarification was necessary now because a march was taken out from Bidar by the Vijayapura BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal from Bidar, he explained.
"There is a political split in the BJP but I won't discuss your internal matter," Siddaramaiah quipped.
He was referring to the differences between Yatnal and BJP state chief B Y Vijayendra. As a show of strength, Yatnal decided to take out a march from Bidar to Chamarajanagar with the support of 12 senior BJP leaders including MP and MLAs.
He accused the BJP of politicising the issue and reminded that despite the attempt to communalise the atmosphere in the state, the BJP lost the recent bypolls in all the three assembly segments, Channapatna, Sandur and Shiggaon.
Not satisfied by the explanation given by the Congress government, the BJP staged a walkout from the assembly.
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Social media content creator held for throwing cash on road in Hyderabad
Hyderabad, Dec 18: A social media content creator was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly throwing a bundle of currency notes worth Rs 20,000 on the roadside of the Outer Ring Road (ORR) here, encouraging viewers to participate in a "money hunt" game, police said.
Responding to the act, the police in a post on X (formerly Twitter), said, "This irresponsible act caused chaos, inconvenience, and posed a significant threat to #RoadSafety."
The incident came to light after a viral video showed the individual throwing the bundle of currency notes while issuing a challenge to viewers.
Acting on the video, Rachakonda Police Commissioner G Sudheer Babu directed the Ghatkesar Police Station to register a case. During the investigation, the individual was identified and subsequently arrested.
In the video, the man is seen holding bundles of currency notes and announcing that, as part of a "money hunt" challenge, he is throwing Rs 20,000 near the ORR roadside. He invites viewers to collect the cash.
The police stressed the dangers of such behavior and said, "Such reckless acts not only endanger lives but also set a bad example for others. #SocialMedia should be a platform to inspire and educate, not to act irresponsibly. #RachakondaPolice remains committed to ensuring public safety and holding individuals accountable."
A police official told the media that the cash had not been recovered.
Asked whether the currency notes were genuine, the official said, "The arrested individual claims the notes are original. We will verify this during the investigation."
The police added that such acts, aimed at gaining views and likes on social media, pose serious risks to public safety. They are also investigating the role of the person who recorded the video of the incident.
Further investigation is undeway.
Irresponsible Instagram Content Creator Arrested
— Rachakonda Police (@RachakondaCop) December 18, 2024
Recently a viral video surfaced showing an individual throwing ₹20,000 bundle on the roadside of ORR and challenging viewers to a #MoneyHunt. This irresponsible act caused chaos, inconvenience, and posed a significant threat… pic.twitter.com/tpypMB6lnQ
