Karnataka seer calls for revoking Muslim voting rights, abolition of Waqf Board

The seer of Vishwa Vokkaliga Mahasamstana Math in Karnataka sparked controversy with his call to strip the Muslim community of voting rights. He claimed that a law similar to that in Pakistan should be enacted, alleging non-Muslims do not have voting power there.
Kumara Chandrashekaranatha Swamiji’s remarks were made during a protest organised by the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh in Karnataka, where he also urged the abolition of the Waqf Board, which has been at the center of an ongoing dispute over land ownership.
He argued that removing Muslims’ voting power would help maintain peace and unity in India. “A law should be brought in where the Muslim community doesn’t have the voting power,” he said. He criticised politicians for allegedly prioritising votes from the Muslim community, suggesting that voting rights for Muslims should be removed, similar to Pakistan’s policies.
The controversy surrounding Waqf properties intensified in recent weeks, particularly after farmers in Karnataka’s Vijayapura district alleged that their lands were wrongly marked as Waqf properties. These claims have led to protests from farmer groups, opposition parties, and religious organisations, who argue that the Waqf Board’s actions amount to land grabs.
In his address, Chandrashekaranatha Swamiji focused on the protection of farmers’ land, stating, “Someone taking away someone else’s land is not Dharma.” He urged the public to unite in defence of farmers, who he called “Annadatas” or food producers, and insisted that their land should remain in their hands.
In response to the growing concerns, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah recently ordered the revocation of notices issued to farmers regarding Waqf properties and directed officials to nullify any unauthorised amendments to land records.