Waqf Board's land claim sparks protests in Ernakulam; churches demand govt intervention


Daijiworld Media Network - Kochi

Kochi, Nov 12: Widespread protests have erupted in Munambam, Ernakulam, following the Waqf Board's claim to 404 acres of land that houses over 600 families, predominantly Christian. The dispute intensified on Sunday as the Syro-Malabar Church led solidarity events across 1,000 churches throughout Kerala, with the All Kerala Catholic Congress spearheading the movement.

Churches held special prayers post-Mass to express support for the families affected by the land claim. Residents of Cherai and Munambam allege that despite holding valid registered land deeds and proof of tax payments, the Waqf Board is unjustly asserting ownership over their properties.

Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil of the Syro-Malabar Church urged the state and central governments to take immediate action to resolve the crisis. “This is a humanitarian issue that must be addressed democratically and in line with constitutional principles,” Archbishop Thattil said during his visit to the hunger strike participants in Munambam on Saturday.

Archbishop Dr Joseph Kalathiparambil of the Varapuzha Latin Archdiocese also called for a compassionate and just approach from the authorities, affirming that the disputed land does not belong to the Waqf Board. His comments followed discussions between the Varapuzha Archdiocese and government officials.

The Syro-Malabar Church's intervention reflects growing concern among Kerala’s Christian community, particularly in response to the LDF and UDF's opposition to the BJP-led Centre’s Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

On Sunday, Minister for Waqf and Haj Pilgrimage V. Abdurahiman assured that the government would not displace anyone in Munambam. He stressed that the issue should not be framed as communal, promising a resolution without evictions. Despite the assurance, the Munambam Bhoo Samrakshana Samiti stated they would continue their protest until a solution is reached.

The state’s UDF and CPI(M)-led LDF recently passed a joint resolution opposing the 2024 Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which seeks to moderate some of the Board’s existing powers. This move has drawn criticism from the Church, which argues that such provisions have facilitated unwarranted land claims impacting long-established Christian families in the region.

In an editorial, Deepika, a Syro-Malabar Church-affiliated publication, condemned the resolution, accusing both the UDF and LDF of neglecting the plight of the affected residents by siding with the Waqf law.

Back in September, the Syro-Malabar Church and the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council reached out to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), raising concerns over the Waqf Board’s appropriation of land owned by Christian families. Archbishop Andrews Thazath, leading the Church’s Public Affairs Commission, emphasized in the letter that these actions threatened nearly 600 families, many from the economically disadvantaged fishing community. The land claim even extends to a Catholic parish church, a convent, and a dispensary in Munambam.

Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, President of the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council, reinforced these appeals to the JPC, citing hardships experienced by the affected families since the Waqf Law's implementation in 2002.

 

 

  

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Comment on this article

  • Shankar, mangaluru

    Wed, Nov 13 2024

    We Hindus are always with Christians. Hindu-Christian bhai bhai..

    DisAgree [5] Agree [25] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jaggu, Mangalore

    Wed, Nov 13 2024

    Non muslim bond is need of the hour to fight these injustices committed by one community. Don't divide for the sake of vote bank.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [22] Reply Report Abuse

  • H. Almeida., Bendur/Andheri.

    Wed, Nov 13 2024

    " WAFQ BOARD " is on a rampage, preying systematically on " Non Believers " ancestral land... Obviously they are emboldened by netas, who have cunningly used them as " Vote Bank " to grab power in India...

    DisAgree [3] Agree [29] Reply Report Abuse

  • AJ, mangalore

    Wed, Nov 13 2024

    Political gimmick..We muslims are not bothered about any waqf land nor we claim to it..Whoever claims it are maybe doing it on the behest of some corrupt netaji..We need only 6/3/2 land to rest in peace..

    DisAgree [29] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Raheja Waterfront

    Wed, Nov 13 2024

    I wonder if Board's people are Uneducated ...

    DisAgree [8] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • Dsouza, Bangalore

    Wed, Nov 13 2024

    Why no board for Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Jains, Paris & all other smallest of small minority groups in India to claim any properties? Why only given so much power to one community the Waqf board to claim any properties?

    DisAgree [1] Agree [47] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vicky Raj, Mangalore

    Wed, Nov 13 2024

    I am waiting for Mr. Henry Misquith to comment on this.. For him in Karantaka it was the DOMBARAATA of opposition party and now in Kerala who is playing this DOMBARAATA ??

    DisAgree [2] Agree [54] Reply Report Abuse

  • GURKA, Mangaluru

    Wed, Nov 13 2024

    Dissolve the waqf board why we need these kind of maniacs ! we no need of waqf board ok ! nonsense people

    DisAgree [2] Agree [41] Reply Report Abuse

  • RANGA, Mangalore

    Wed, Nov 13 2024

    ..keralite for all those years held BJP/RSS communal fascist..its wonder why no one knew or media highlighted the dangerous ammendment made by Congress/UPA in WAQF laws..it would have been stopped back then..after those ammendment dont know how many have evicted by board..

    DisAgree Agree [24] Reply Report Abuse

  • Krishna, Udupi

    Wed, Nov 13 2024

    Hindus are with Kerala Christians who is feeling threttend by Land mafia

    DisAgree Agree [20] Reply Report Abuse

  • Krishna, Udupi

    Wed, Nov 13 2024

    dissolve waqf board and declare all land belongs to Govt. to build hospital, school, park, musium, learning center

    DisAgree [3] Agree [37] Reply Report Abuse

  • ravi, Mangalore

    Wed, Nov 13 2024

    Now this waft board will claim whole India as their own property. This illegal board should be dissolved all belongs to Indian govt. If any one comes to claim land. give them nicely every one have to put case against them let them visit court make their life hell.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [34] Reply Report Abuse

  • Monty Dotor, Mangalore

    Wed, Nov 13 2024

    Minorities v/s Minorities.....

    DisAgree [4] Agree [25] Reply Report Abuse

  • Being human, Mangalore

    Wed, Nov 13 2024

    You are wrong as per sickularists it is 23 percent population of minorities against 3 percent population of Christian’s. Christians will be considered minorities when our people reaches 10 percent and you will affect the electoral process.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Yogi, Mangalore

    Tue, Nov 12 2024

    The majority has nearly woken up. Time for the other minority to wake up before it is too late.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [32] Reply Report Abuse

  • fd, chik

    Tue, Nov 12 2024

    easy targets they think ....Israel is enough

    DisAgree Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • Damodar Das, Kundapur

    Tue, Nov 12 2024

    This land claim by Waqf board is result of BJP’s Waqf (amendment) bill 2024 which is encouraging and giving free hand to board to acquire land. This is done intentionally by communal BJP govt to stir up controversy and then when things go out of hand take charge of the entire Waqf board.

    DisAgree [104] Agree [27] Reply Report Abuse

  • Stanley, Mangalore

    Wed, Nov 13 2024

    Bro, you dont have to blame BJP and Modi for everything . Its obvious. The heat is slowy creeping up in the rear. Remember! Lebanon was once a Christian Country and then the refugees came.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [36] Reply Report Abuse

  • AJ, Mangalore

    Wed, Nov 13 2024

    On that note..palestine was also a muslim country until invaders came and acquired the whole land ..

    DisAgree [22] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Being human, Mangalore

    Wed, Nov 13 2024

    First learn history of Middle East and comment these are Jewish and Christian places .

    DisAgree [2] Agree [9] Report Abuse

  • Shankara Prasad, Puttur

    Wed, Nov 13 2024

    That's not true. Infact, Waqf board is now claiming land everywhere, because once the Waqf amendment act is passed, they can't claim any land. Their power will be cut down through this act Firstly read who created this Waqf boar din 1950 and then gave them special powers in 1995 and 2013. BJP govt's bill is only correcting the mistakes of past.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [32] Reply Report Abuse

  • Krishna, Udupi

    Wed, Nov 13 2024

    If BJP is communal, why churches oppose state govt resolution against waqf ammendment? And why churches opposing state govt now? Why met JPC team and demanding more stronger ammendment?

    DisAgree [4] Agree [48] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: Waqf Board's land claim sparks protests in Ernakulam; churches demand govt intervention



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