A large-scale Christian solidarity conclave was held in Thiruvananthapuram on November 12 at the Palayam Martyrs Column to discuss the Munambam Waqf dispute. This legal and religious conflict revolves around the ownership and control of land in Munambam, a coastal area in the Ernakulam district, where Christian residents have become victims of the ongoing dispute between Kerala Wakf Board and Christians. The Church views this issue not merely as a dispute over land, but as an existential threat to the livelihood and cultural identity of Christian families in the region by the Islamic forces.
The event, which drew attention from various Christian Dioceses, denominations, church linked social, political, and cultural leaders, was inaugurated by Latin Archbishop Thomas J. Netto.
During his address, Archbishop Netto questioned whether government agencies should delay their actions due to the upcoming by-elections, stressing the urgency of intervention to address pressing issues like Munambam. He emphasised that when society is burdened by unjust laws, solutions must be found without compromise. The Archbishop further asserted that while elections come and go, the Church remains steadfast in its commitment to fighting injustice.
Kerala Region Latin Catholic Council Secretary, Fr. Thomas Tharayil, strongly stated that the people of Munambam do not want the generous assurances of some leaders claiming that the local residents will not be evicted. He made it clear that the Church will not settle for anything less than a permanent solution to the Munambam Waqf issue. Fr. Tharayil further highlighted reports suggesting that a land area equivalent to Munambam may be allocated to the Waqf in Kasaragod, warning that such arbitrary allocation of government land will not be tolerated.
#WATCH | Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: In solidarity with the Munambam Protesters, various catholic and Christian organisations staged a dharna at Palayam Martyrs Square.
Fr. Eugine H Pereira, Vicar General, Latin Catholic Diocese, says, "We precisely brought this assembly to… pic.twitter.com/i7s7fZoFW8
— ANI (@ANI) November 12, 2024
Fr. Yugene H. Pereira, Vicar of the Thiruvananthapuram Latin Archdiocese, called for an urgent all-party meeting to be convened to find a way to safeguard the land and the birthrights of the people of Munambam.
Malankara Catholic Sabha Thiruvananthapuram Major Archdiocese Auxiliary Metropolitan, Mathews Mar Poli Carpus, declared that it is the duty of every philanthropist to stand in solidarity with the people enduring pain and suffering. He demanded immediate justice for the residents of Munambam, emphasising that the issue is not about religious divisions. The Munambam struggle, he stated, is a fight for the fundamental right to live, as guaranteed by the Constitution of India. He also confirmed that the parish churches under the Thiruvananthapuram Major Archdiocese, along with Cardinal Mar Baselios Clemes Catholica Bava, express their full solidarity with the people of Munambam.
CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam and senior Congress leader V.M. Sudheeran also addressed the gathering. It was noted that, just days earlier, V.M. Sudheeran was denied entry to the Satyagraha Pandal in Munambam. The CPI, a partner in the ruling CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF), and Sudheeran, leader of the Congress Party, which heads the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF), had previously joined forces to pass a unanimous resolution in the Kerala Legislative Assembly against the Modi government’s Waqf Amendment Bill.
Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha National President, Tejasvi Surya MP, stated in Palakkad while campaigning for BJP candidate C. Krishnakumar that the Waqf Board is carrying out Land Jihad in Kerala. The victims now find solace in Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement that, come what may, the Waqf Amendment Bill will be passed.
Islamic aggression on Christian community with ‘Love Jihad’ and ‘Waqf Land Jihad’
The Munambam issue and its broader context reflect a significant shift in the dynamics between the Christian and Muslim communities in Kerala, which, for the past 70 years, have often stood united in opposition to Hindu interests. This alliance, however, has often come at the cost of Hindus, with both communities periodically jeopardising the interests of the majority. Over the decades, while Sangh organisations, including the Jan Sangh and other Sangh-inspired bodies, have consistently highlighted the communal agendas of minority groups, both the Church and Islamic forces have united to suppress these voices.
However, two key developments in recent years have dramatically altered this equation, creating a divide between the two communities and leading to a reconfiguration of their alliance. The first of these developments is the issue of Love Jihad. Christians in Kerala, particularly those from conservative communities, have expressed grave concerns over the growing number of young girls who have been lured into marriages with Muslim men under false pretenses, often leading to religious conversions. Hundreds of families, especially in areas with a significant Christian presence, claim that their daughters have fallen victim to this practice. Disturbingly, no pseudo-secular political fronts came to their aid, leaving them to find solace only in the RSS, BJP, and Sangh-inspired organisations, which were the only ones to offer real support and counsel. The helplessness of the Church in these instances—due to the political influence of the CPM-led government and the lack of support from law enforcement—has further driven Christian communities to seek assistance from organisations that have traditionally been viewed as rivals to the left-wing establishment.
The second critical development that has worsened relations between the two communities is the issue of Waqf Land Jihad. Over the years, the Waqf Board has been accused of aggressively acquiring land across Kerala, much of it belonging to Christian families. In Munambam, a village that has been at the centre of this dispute, nearly 400 out of the 620 families are Christian. These communities have been directly affected by the Waqf’s attempts to seize their property, further heightening tensions. This issue is not just about land; it is also seen as an existential threat to the livelihood and cultural identity of Christian families in the region. With the political establishment, including the CPM, remaining largely indifferent or complicit, the Church has found itself increasingly isolated, turning once again to the RSS, BJP and Sangh inspired organisations for support in protecting its members from what is perceived as a concerted attempt to erode their presence and rights in their own land.
These two developments—Love Jihad and Waqf Land Jihad—have brought to the fore the deepening fractures between the Church and Islamic forces in Kerala, which were once allies in opposing Hindu interests. As the dynamics shift, it is clear that the unity of the past is now broken, with both communities facing significant challenges that are forcing them into opposing camps, each navigating a different path in an increasingly volatile socio-political landscape.
