Karnataka Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka on Monday raised a sharp alarm over alleged Waqf-related entries being recorded in farmers' land documents across the state, claiming that more than 1.80 lakh Record of Rights, Tenancy and Crops (RTC) documents have already been marked and the process could extend to nearly three lakh land records spanning all 31 districts of Karnataka. The senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader demanded an immediate halt and a public White Paper from the Congress government in Bengaluru.

What Ashoka Alleged

In a strongly-worded statement, Ashoka charged that the state government's conduct amounted to more than a clerical anomaly. 'The farmer feeds the nation. Making the same farmer stand before government offices to prove ownership of his own land will invite the curse of the annadata,' he said.

He alleged that Waqf-related references are being entered in Column 11 of RTC documents — a column that records encumbrances and rights — potentially clouding ownership title and complicating transactions such as land sales and bank loans. Ashoka described the development as 'not merely a matter of record alteration, but a question of ownership, livelihood and the future of farmers.'

District-Wise Figures Cited

Ashoka cited district-level data to underline the scale of the alleged problem. According to him, Karwar accounts for around 73,000 RTCs with such entries, followed by Mangaluru with 48,000, Shivamogga with 38,000, Bengaluru South with 18,000, Kalaburagi with 17,000, and Bagalkote with another 17,000.

These figures, he argued, point to a systemic pattern rather than isolated data-entry errors. Notably, the districts named span both the coastal belt — where Waqf land disputes have historically been concentrated — and inland Karnataka.

Challenge to Chief Minister Shivakumar

Addressing Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar directly, Ashoka issued a two-pronged challenge: if the reports are incorrect, the government should immediately place verified facts before the public; if the entries have indeed been made, it must explain why farmers are being pushed into uncertainty over land they own. He further questioned whether these entries would prevent farmers from selling land, securing agricultural credit, or exercising basic ownership rights.

Ashoka also accused the Congress of prioritising 'appeasement politics' over agrarian welfare — a charge the BJP has levelled repeatedly in the context of Karnataka's Waqf controversy.

The Congress Government's Position

The Congress government has consistently maintained that no farmer's ownership rights would be affected by Waqf-related proceedings and that any discrepancies in land records would be examined in accordance with the law. The government has not yet responded to Ashoka's latest demands for a White Paper or a formal review of all flagged RTCs.

Broader Political Context

The Waqf land issue has remained a flashpoint in Karnataka politics for several years, with the BJP repeatedly alleging that agricultural and private lands were being claimed under Waqf records. The controversy gained national traction during debates over the now-amended Waqf Act. Ashoka's renewed offensive signals that the BJP intends to keep the issue alive ahead of future electoral cycles, framing it as a farmers' rights question rather than a purely religious one — a framing with potentially wider rural appeal.

All eyes are now on whether the Shivakumar government responds with a formal rebuttal, a review order, or the White Paper that the opposition is demanding.