Why Kerala Christian Body Is Asking MPs To Support Waqf Amendment Bill (Photo on X@pitchaijohn1961)
Kochi, Kerala: The controversial Waqf Bill is in Parliament, and the voting to pass the bill will be held soon, as the entire opposition are all set to oppose the bill unanimously. As secular parties appear to be united against the bill, calling it unconstitutional and discriminatory, a section of Christians in Kerala, especially the Catholic bishops’ forum, are strongly pushing for the bill to be passed.
The BJP, which is all set to make another alleged anti-minority bill in parliament, has seized the moment to capitalise on the Munambam dispute in Kerala to woo a section of the Christian community in favour of the contentious bill. Intervening on the issue last year, the BJP had taken a stand, asserting that the Munambam Waqf dispute will be resolved in favour of the residents if the Waqf amendment bill is passed.
Read Also: Explained: What Is Munambam Waqf Issue In Kerala?
Notably, with the BJP’s claim, the residents of Munambam, mostly Christians, have warned the Congress MPs against opposing the Waqf amendment bill in the parliament. They have threatened that they will abandon them in years to come if they take a stand against the Waqf Amendment Bill. The Congress party and the entire India bloc, including other opposition parties, have unanimously decided to oppose the controversial bill and have issued a whip to its MPs to attend the parliament session on the bill.
The Kerala State Waqf Board has long staked a claim on over 404 acres of land in Ernakulam district’s Munambam region, which has been inhabited for generations by some 600 Christian and Hindu families. The Catholic bishops’ forums are highlighting the plight of around 600 families against the waqf board’s claim over the properties. The land was reportedly donated by Siddique Sait in 1950 to Farook College, which later underwent some changes. The residents claim they purchased the land from the owners. Residents are now unable to pay tax on their land in the village offices.
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Political parties, including the Indian Union Muslim League, have said that they would offer full support to the residents of Munambam to resolve the issue in favour of them. However, the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC) has urged MPs from Kerala to vote in favour of the Waqf (amendment) bill. Meanwhile, the Congress has said that the BJP is creating a false narrative that the people of Munambam will get their land immediately after the Waqf Amendment Bill is passed. The Syro-Malabar Church has also extended support to the Waqf bill, citing property disputes in Munambam.
The Congress also pointed out that the Munambam dispute can only come through a verdict of the court where the case is pending, adding that what the BJP is trying to do is to divide Muslims and Christians through the Waqf Amendment Bill. The New Indian Express quoted a Congress MP.
