Bishop Mar Joseph Kallarangat of Pala stated at Munambam that Bharat does not need religious laws that fall outside Revenue Rules. He said this while addressing residents of Munambam affected by the Waqf land claims in Munambam village of Ernakulam district, where they have been holding a relay hunger strike for the past two weeks. The Bishop visited to show solidarity with nearly 620 families who are on the brink of losing the lands and homes they have occupied for generations.
The Bishop said that both the LDF (ruling CPM-led Left Democratic Front) and UDF (Opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front) have taken unfavourable positions on this issue. Both joined hands in the Legislative Assembly to pass a unanimous resolution demanding the withdrawal of the Waqf Amendment Bill introduced by the Union government in Parliament. This is truly painful, deplorable, and preposterous. The elected leaders appear to be deceiving the voters. The government and political parties are expected to stand with the victims. The Bishop stated that Munambam is the product of the sweat, strain, hard work, and efforts of the Christian community.
The Munambam Waqf issue in Kerala centres on a dispute over land claims made by the Kerala State Waqf Board, which asserts ownership of properties legally purchased by Christian families from Farooq College authorities. This conflict affects nearly 620 families who are at risk of losing their homes and lands, resulting in significant mental anguish among residents.
The Bishop denounced the Waqf’s diktat to those who legally purchased the land from the Farooq College authorities, stating that the assertion, “This is not yours; it belongs to the Waqf Board,” is unacceptable. The mental anguish it causes is unfathomable. Lakhs of acres of land in the country are ensnared in the Waqf imbroglio, which will lead to grave consequences in the future. This issue requires serious study and research. The residents of Munambam should be allowed to lead peaceful lives, regaining ownership of their homes and land as before. Currently, they are unable to pledge or sell their land. This situation is the result of the government’s failure to handle the issue effectively and the people’s inability to fully grasp the implications. The Bishop remarked that the victims only realised their predicament when the ground was pulled out from under their feet.
The Bishop’s personal visit and public speech denote the significance the Church places on the issue. They indicate that the Christian minorities are no longer blind supporters of the UDF and LDF.
Meanwhile, an ABVP team led by state secretary E.U. Ishwara Prasad visited the hunger strike pandal. The ABVP secretary declared his organisation’s support for the victims, stating that the ABVP would resort to direct agitation if necessary.
Despite the imminent bye-elections in the Chelakkara and Palakkad assembly constituencies and the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, both the LDF and UDF continue to support the Waqf’s stance. Neither party responds to specific questions regarding the Munambam issue, even during the election campaigns in those constituencies. This demonstrates their commitment to the organised Muslim vote bank.
