Waqf Land: Church Calls For Govt Action Amid Escalating Protests In Kerala

Kochi: ongoing protests in Munambam in Kerala 's Ernakulam district over Waqf land claim have intensified, with influential Syro-Malabar Church organising solidarity events across 1,000 churches in state on Sunday.

Church sources said events were organised under leership of All Kerala Catholic Congress , official community organisation of Church.

As part of programme, special prayers were held in Churches after Sunday Mass to express solidarity with residents protesting Munambam land dispute.

In villages of Cherai and Munambam, residents have alleged Waqf Board was unlawfully claiming ir land and properties, despite people holding registered deeds and land tax payment receipts.

Syro-Malabar Church he, Major Archbishop Raphel Thattil, called on both Union and State governments to intervene and resolve Munambam issue.

"This is a humanitarian issue and must be dressed in a humane, democratic way, in accordance with Constitution," he said. He me se remarks after visiting those staging hunger strike in Munambam on Saturday.

Archbishop Dr Joseph Kalathiparampil of Varapuzha Latin Archdiocese also weighed in, urging both central and State governments to take a moral and humane stance on Waqf land dispute.

He said land in Munambam was not Waqf property, citing discussions between Varapuzha Archdiocese and representatives from Union and State governments.

Syro-Malabar Church's intervention comes amid growing discontent among a significant section of Christian population in state over opposition by both LDF and UDF to BJP -led Centre's Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

Meanwhile, Minister for Waqf and Haj Pilgrimage, V Abdurahiman, assured public on Sunday that government would not evict anyone from Munambam.

" government will resolve issue and has no plans to evict anyone," he told reporters, urging matter should not be portrayed as a communal issue.

Protesters from Munambam Bhoo Samrakshana Samiti announced on Sunday that y would continue with protests to any extent necessary if issue remains unresolved.

Congress-led UDF and CPI(M)-led LDF recently passed a unanimous resolution in state assembly opposing Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which challenges provisions in existing Waqf law.

In opposition to bill, Church has alleged that numerous properties belonging to Christian families for generations in Cherai and Munambam have been unlawfully claimed by Waqf Board using provisions of existing Act.

Recently, Deepika, a daily newspaper backed by Syro-Malabar Church, published an editorial criticising Congress-led UDF and CPI(M)-led LDF, accusing m of passing unanimous resolution in state Assembly “to protect Waqf law without seeing tears of affected people.”