Congress in Kerala rejects BJP’s ‘devious’ attempt to link Munambam land dispute to Waqf Bill

Opposition Leader V.D. Satheesan accuses BJP of sowing discord between minorities in Kerala by interpreting Waqf Bill solely through the prism of Munambam land issue

The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala has rejected the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) claim that the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2024, passed by Lok Sabha late on Wednesday (April 2, 2025), was a victory for the beleaguered residents of Munambam fighting to regain their ownership rights. 

Speaking to reporters in Ernakulam on Thursday (April 3), Kerala’s Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan accused the BJP of trying to put minorities at loggerheads with each other by misleadingly linking the Munambam land issue to the “objectionable Bill muscled through” Lok Sabha by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre. 

He said Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju had clarified in Lok Sabha that the Bill had no retrospective effect and hence had no bearing on the Munambam land dispute.

‘Larger issues at stake’

Mr. Satheesan accused the BJP of sowing discord between minorities in Kerala by interpreting the Waqf Bill solely through the prism of the Munambam land issue. “Larger issues are at stake, including secularism, minority rights and Constitutional guarantees”, he added. 

Mr. Satheesan said the Communist Party of India (Marxist)‘s [CPI(M)] “wilful delay” in settling the Munambam land issue had “worked to the advantage of Sangh Parivar forces seeking to drive a wedge between Christian and Muslim communities in the State.”

He noted that the Kerala Waqf Board (KWB) was populated by political appointees nominated by the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government. 

“The LDF could easily persuade the KWB to give up its claim over the land sold by the Farooq College management to Munambam residents. However, the CPI(M) allowed the issue to fester, possibly to undercut the UDF’s secular minority base ahead of the local body polls (in 2025) and the Assembly elections in 2026,” he said.

Mr. Satheesan said the attempt to deem the land sold to Munambam residents as “a permanent and irrevocable dedication to God defied logic and the law of the land.”

He said the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leadership had met Church leaders and expressed solidarity with Munambam residents agitating for restoring their revenue rights. 

Mr. Satheesan said Congress MPs stuck to the party’s national line that the Waqf Bill was patently anti-minority and sought to put Waqf properties in the danger zone, vulnerable to takeover and Central government control. 

He said the NDA had “bulldozed” the Bill through the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC). “JPC chairperson and BJP MP Jagdambika Pal prevented the Opposition from expressing its views on the amendment and disallowed the clause-by-clause discussion,” he added.

‘BJP outreach Janus-faced’

He termed the BJP’s outreach to Christians in Kerala “Janus-faced.”

“In north India, the Sangh Parivar vandalised churches and terrorised believers. In Jabalpur, BJP workers attacked Fr. Davies from Thrissur for leading a prayer group. The police watched mutely. In Kerala, the same Sangh Parivar was cosying up to the Church. Kerala should realise the duplicity”, he said. 

Bill will empower residents: Rajeev Chandrasekhar

Meanwhile, in a Facebook post, BJP State president Rajeev Chandrasekhar said the Bill would empower Munambam residents to reclaim their property rights and “end decades of Congress’ appeasement politics.”

Mr. Chandrasekhar will likely call on agitating families in Munambam on Friday.

Earlier, he had met Church leaders, including Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC) chairperson Cardinal Cleemis, who had urged Congress MPS to vote in favour of the Bill.

Speaking to reporters in Kozhikode, IUML leader M.K. Muneer, MLA, mooted an out-of-court settlement of the Munambam issue, lest the amendment further complicate matters and provoke vexatious and protracted litigations.

He said a meeting of minds between the two communities could settle the problem early.

Published - April 03, 2025 12:57 pm IST