Two prominent former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators from Karnataka have launched a sharp attack on the state's Congress government, accusing it of creating fresh confusion over a long-standing and sensitive land ownership issue in the Kodagu (Coorg) region.
Allegations of a Settled Issue Being Reopened
At a joint press conference held in Madikeri, former MLAs KG Bopaiah and Appachu Ranjan alleged that a recent circular issued by the Congress administration has once again muddied the waters regarding the ownership of Jamma Bane land. They asserted that this matter had been permanently resolved back in 2024, and the government's latest move is an attempt to mislead the public by claiming credit for finding a solution.
Bopaiah provided a historical backdrop, stating that the Jamma Bane land dispute is not new but became particularly serious in 1983. This was triggered when a member of the Kodava community approached the court concerning ownership and related rights. According to him, the court's ruling was clear: there was no individual owner of Jamma Bane land. Instead, tenants were granted only limited rights to use trees for greenery, collect firewood, and construct houses for personal use.
The Timeline of Circulars and Amendments
Bopaiah explained that based on this court verdict, a revenue officer issued a circular in 2006. This circular formalized the position that Jamma Bane landholders could not become owners and were entitled only to those limited special rights. "That circular was issued to trouble the people," Bopaiah alleged. He and Appachu Ranjan had formed a struggle committee to oppose it, and the matter was also raised in the legislative assembly.
The narrative took a turn after the BJP came to power in 2007. Bopaiah claimed that within a month of assuming office, the BJP government withdrew the contentious 2006 circular. The process of providing a more permanent resolution continued, leading to an amendment bill being passed in both the legislative assembly and the legislative council in 2011. The bill was immediately forwarded to the governor for assent.
"Though objections were raised initially, the amendment was later upheld by the court," Bopaiah stated, emphasizing the legal finality achieved. However, he now alleges that the issue has resurfaced due to a new circular issued by the current Congress government concerning land transfers.
Accusations of Political Opportunism
Joining the criticism, former MLA Appachu Ranjan accused the Congress government of trying to take political advantage of the situation. He claimed the Congress is attempting to claim credit for the amendments that were actually processed during the BJP's tenure. Ranjan pointed to legislative records, stating that Congress leaders Siddaramaiah and KJ George had supported the proposal in the assembly when the BJP was in power.
"We had already completed 99% of the rectification," Ranjan claimed. He alleged that politics is now being played to project the Congress government as the entity that resolved the long-pending issue, which he insists was settled years ago through their efforts.
The press conference underscores the ongoing political friction in Karnataka over land rights, a deeply emotive subject in the state's Malnad and Kodagu regions. The former MLAs' strong statements indicate that the Jamma Bane issue, which many believed was closed, is poised to become a fresh flashpoint between the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP.
