Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament Lahar Singh Siroya has raised serious concerns over the Karnataka government’s alleged suppression of a critical Lokayukta report on Waqf property mismanagement. In a letter dated December 9 to Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) Chairman Jagdambika Pal, Siroya questioned the actions of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s administration in 2016 regarding the report submitted by then Upa Lokayukta Justice N. Anand.
The report, presented in March 2016, detailed extensive “criminal misuse, mismanagement, illegal subletting, and outright encroachment” of Waqf properties in Karnataka. Siroya’s letter emphasised the betrayal by those entrusted with safeguarding these assets, likening it to “the proverbial fence meant to protect the crops, ending up grazing them.”
Siroya further questioned the Congress government’s motives, asking, “Why did the government panic and withdraw its own enquiry order? Who was the Shri Siddaramaiah government trying to protect in 2016?” He suggested that the suppression might have been to shield prominent Congress figures, stating, “Is it because if the report came out, some big names in the Congress, including Siddaramaiah’s friends and allies in the party and government, would tumble out.”
The Lokayukta report’s findings align with a 2012 investigation by the Karnataka State Minorities Commission, which uncovered that approximately 29,000 acres of Waqf land, valued at around Rs 2 lakh crore, had been illicitly appropriated.
Siroya’s appeal to the JPC underscores the necessity for transparency and accountability in handling Waqf properties. He urged the committee to make informed decisions regarding future Waqf legislation to prevent further exploitation.
Sharing his concerns on social media platform X, Siroya posted, “My letter to the Chairman of JPC on Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024, Jagdambika Pal on the suppressed Lokayukta report by the Government of Karnataka under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah 2016, with regard to Waqf properties.”
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This development adds to the ongoing discourse on Waqf property management in Karnataka, highlighting the need for stringent oversight and reform to protect these community assets from further misappropriation.
