Waqf Board claims 400 acres of land in Kerala’s 3 villages

Christian Church oppose it

Kochi (Kerala) – The Waqf Board have laid claim to 400 acres of land in Munambam, and Cherai villages. About 600 families are living on this land.

1. In 2019, the Waqf Board claimed that 404 acres of land in Munambam, Cherai, and Pallikal belongs to them. People belonging to various religions are living in this area since 1989, and they have valid documents to prove their ownership; yet the Waqf Board has laid claims to this land. These families have legitimately bought the land they are living on; but now force is being used to evict them from this land.

2. The Kerala Catholic Bishops Conference and the Syro-Malabar Public Affairs Commission has taken serious note of this matter and request the Centre to look into the same. Both the organisations have requested the Union government to pass amendments to the Waqf act such that such illegal claims are not made in future. Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, president of the Kerala Catholic Bishops Conference, and Archbishop Andrews Thazgath, have said in their letter that no citizen should lose his right to property and prestige. It is the governments responsibility that justice is impartial and judicious.

Radical terrorist groups could be responsible for this – BJP

BJP says that this is not only about the rightful ownership of the land, it is part of a larger conspiracy, in which a terrorist group could be involved. The claim of the Waqf Board should be investigated, such that whether there is an involvement of a terrorist group. This is not about the Christian community only; people of other religions could be affected as well. If the necessary amendments are not made to the Waqf act then such disputes could arise in future as well.

Editorial Perspective

Will the pro-Muslim political parties oppose the claim to get Christian votes ? Will the Church make a demand to the Centre to abolish the Waqf act ?