Union ministers Kiren Rijiju and Nirmala Sitharaman welcomed the KCBC's support and dismissed allegations that the Bill targeted any community.
Published Mar 31, 2025 | 3:19 PM ⚊ Updated Mar 31, 2025 | 3:19 PM
Synopsis: The Union government has received a shot in the arm from the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council, a Bishops’ body in Kerala, coming out in support of the proposed Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2024. The KCBC felt amendments were needed to the existing act to provide justice for Munambam residents, who have been protesting the Waqf Board’s move to take over their property.
The Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC) has urged parliament members to support the proposed Waqf (Amendment) Act, calling certain provisions in the present Act, unconstitutional, and unjust.
According to KCBC, these provisions enabled illegal claims that prevented residents of Munambam in Ernakulam from asserting their rights over the land.
Fr. Thomas Tharayil of KCBC stated that the disputed land was originally gifted to Farooq College, Kozhikode, which later sold it to the residents. The KCBC would write to MPs, urging them to back the amendment.
The controversy stems from a dispute in Munambam, where around 610 families have been opposing the Waqf Board’s claim over their land. The land was originally gifted to Farooq College and later sold to the residents. The board’s intervention has triggered protests.
The KCBC felt the amendments necessary to ensure justice for those affected.
KCBC, the regional Bishops’ council for Kerala, is constituted under the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) to cater the special needs of the apostolate in the state.
The KCBC’s support of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill has bolstered the Centre’s position. Union ministers Kiren Rijiju and Nirmala Sitharaman welcomed the support and dismissed allegations that the Bill targeted any community.
I welcome the request by Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC) to all MPs of Kerala to support the Waqf Amendment Bill as a Minister and as a minority community member.
It is the duty of those in politics to care for and address problems and challenges faced by our people. For… pic.twitter.com/GQR8kr1Zgz
— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) March 30, 2025
Rijiju termed claims against the Bill “propaganda” and emphasised that it aimed to address real concerns, including the plight of hundreds of families in Munambam, Kerala, struggling to protect their properties.
Asserting the government’s commitment to safeguard the rights of all citizens, he urged MPs from Kerala to support the amendment.
Sitharaman welcomed the KCBC’s appeal to MPs, calling it a “welcome step” against the present Act’s “unfair” and “anti-constitutional” provisions.
A welcome step by the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC).
Their call is for amending the sections which are “unfair” and “anti-constitutional”in the existing Waqf Act.
“Kerala Catholic bishops put weight behind Centre’s Waqf (Amendment) Bill.”
— Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) March 31, 2025
Meanwhile, BJP Kerala president Rajeev Chandrasekhar welcomed KCBC’s stance. He said the amendment safeguards property rights without targeting any community.
He asserted that aligning Waqf’sthat powers with constitutional rights ensures fairness for all citizens.
Incidentally, Muslims across cities in India, wore black armbands while offering namaz on Jumu’atul Wida, the last Friday of the holy month of Ramzan on 28 March.
Meanwhile, Palayam Imam VP Suhaib Moulavi raised concerns over the proposed amendments to the Waqf Act, stating that several provisions in the Bill contradicted the existing law.
Speaking at the Eidgah held at Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium in the state capital Thiruvananthapuram, he emphasised that Waqf properties, including mosques and orphanages, were donations meant for the service of the community and should be handled with utmost care.
“The Waqf Act is designed to safeguard these assets as they are considered the wealth of Allah. However, there are ongoing efforts to amend the law in ways that do not align with its original purpose. The Quran entrusts believers with the management of Waqf, but this principle is now being challenged,” the Imam remarked.
He warned that the proposed changes could lead to the loss of Waqf properties and asserted that the existing law did not harm any section of society.
The Imam also urged the people to pray for Palestine, highlighting the suffering of Palestinian mothers and children amid the ongoing conflict.
“War has never benefited any society. It only brings orphans, widows, and suffering. Israel has once again waged war, and it must come to an end. This is not just the concern of one community but a need for the entire world,” he stated.
At the state level, the Eid gathering saw a large turnout, with prayers and calls for peace resonating among the attendees.
Kottayam MP Francis George clarified that the KCBC has not given full support to the Waqf Amendment Bill. He stated that the provisions of the Bill were still unclear, and a final stance would be taken only after a thorough discussion.
George, a leader of the Kerala Congress (Joseph faction), said the rights of minorities would not be violated and that KCBC’s position should not be misinterpreted as unconditional support for the Bill.
His statement came after Sitharaman and Rijiju welcomed KCBC’s stance, urging MPs from Kerala to vote in favor of the bill.
However, George maintained that a clear stand would be adopted only after properly understanding the provisions.
Joseph Benny, leader of the Munambam protest, told South First that a high-level online meeting was held on 23 March 23, where the demand for KCBC’s intervention was first raised.
“KCBC has supported us from the very beginning. Now, it has been made public, that’s all,” he said.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the Munambam community, senior priests, and diocesan representatives. Benny expressed satisfaction that Union ministers Sitharaman and Rijiju have now extended their support.
“This is the result of our months-long protest. If the amendment goes through, it will be a victory for the people of Munambam,” he added.
He also acknowledged the active involvement of several leaders, including Minister Suresh Gopi and Chandrasekhar, in the movement.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
