NATIONAL: Kerala Catholics Support Waqf (Amendment) Bill—Munambam Land Dispute at the Core
The Munambam Land Dispute—A Long-Standing Conflict
Around 600 Christian families in Munambam, a suburb of Kochi, are facing the threat of eviction from land they purchased in the 1960s from Farook College (Kozhikode).
After six decades, the Kerala State Waqf Board has staked a claim over these 400 acres, leading to a major legal and political controversy.
Waqf (Amendment) Bill—Catholics Seek a Legal Solution
Kerala Catholics believe that the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which was passed in the Lok Sabha on April 2, is essential for a permanent resolution of the dispute.
The Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) and the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council have urged MPs from Kerala to support the bill, calling certain provisions of the existing Waqf laws unconstitutional and against India’s secular values.
BJP’s Intervention and Political Implications
The BJP has stepped in to support the Latin Catholic residents of Munambam. Party leaders have visited the affected families, assuring them of justice.
BJP state vice-president Dr. K.S. Radhakrishnan called the amendment a ‘Modi guarantee’ and stated that it would protect the residents from eviction and help them reclaim their land titles.
Muslim Organisations Oppose the Amendment
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill has sparked strong opposition from Muslim organizations like the Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyathul Ulama.
Its president, Syed Jifri Muthukoya Thangal, criticized the Catholic Church’s appeal to MPs, warning that it could harm communal harmony and further the BJP-led central government’s ‘divisive’ agenda.
Growing Catholic-BJP Proximity in Kerala
In recent years, sections of Kerala’s Catholic community have shown increasing alignment with the BJP. This support played a key role in the party’s victory in the Thrissur Lok Sabha seat in 2023.
Analysts believe the Church’s backing could help the BJP gain traction in coastal and high-range regions ahead of the upcoming state assembly elections.