Kerala’s Munambam Waqf Controversy: Catholic Congress seeks clarity from LDF and UDF, BJP backs fishermen’s cause

The Catholic Congress Global Council has denounced the attempt to evict more than 600 families from their homes, which they purchased legitimately several years ago. The Council criticised both the ruling CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) for their responses to the Waqf Board’s move to deny these fishing families their rightful property. This action is seen as treacherous, especially considering that the fishermen community was hailed as the “Protectors of Kerala” during the devastating floods of 2018. Now, they are at risk of losing their land and homes due to unreasonable Waqf regulations. However, political parties are hesitant to support them, displaying cowardice and a lack of resolve. They cannot genuinely claim to be secularists while betraying a community for the sake of vote bank politics. The Council has called on both the LDF and UDF to clarify their positions on this matter.

The Council stated that the Waqf Board claims ownership of the lands that Farooq Management, a reputable Muslim institution, had legally sold to the fishermen community. The Council demanded an investigation by the Union Government to determine whether there is an organised effort to eliminate the fishermen community. The Government should inquire into the lands that the Waqf Board claims illegally, and the findings should be made public.

The Catholic Congress welcomed the Union Government’s initiative to introduce timely and necessary amendments to the Waqf Board Rules. The conference was presided over by Global President Rajeev Kochuparambil. Director Fr Philip Kaviyil and other senior leaders also spoke on the occasion. Right-thinking individuals wonder why K N Unnikrishnan, MLA (CPM), and Hibi Eden, MP (LS) of Congress, remain silent on this issue.

Meanwhile, the BJP leadership has extended its support to the agitation of 600 fishermen families living in a 400-acre area. Their protest falls under the umbrella of the Munambam Land Protection Council (Munambam Bhoosamrakshana Samiti) and aims to protect their lands, which the Waqf Board claims illegally. BJP Ernakulam District President Adv K S Shaiju and State Committee Member Adv Shon George met with the leaders of the Munambam Land Protection Council to express the party’s support for their agitation. Their visit was in accordance with the instructions of State Party President K Surendran.

Later, they told the media that some terror groups are now claiming the lands of the fishermen families in the name of the Waqf Board. They called on the government to investigate the potential terror links of these claimants. They also expressed their support for the Kerala Catholic Bishop Conference and the Bishop Council, which have declared their backing for the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024. BJP leaders urged both the LDF and UDF, as well as their representatives, to clarify their positions in light of the public statements from the Church supporting the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024.