Referring to the board as “a board known by four letters,” Gopi labelled it “barbaric” and pledged that the Union government would work to disband it.
Published Nov 10, 2024 | 10:48 AM ⚊ Updated Nov 10, 2024 | 10:48 AM
Suresh Gopi
Union Minister of State (MoS) and BJP leader Suresh Gopi has stirred a fresh controversy in Kerala, indicating that the Union government will disband “a board known by four letters”.
His oblique reference to the Waqf Board came at an NDA by-election rally in Wayanad on Saturday, 9 November. Gopi, the Union MoS for Petroleum and Natural Gas, however, did not name the board.
Referring to the board as “a board known by four letters,” Gopi labelled it “barbaric” and pledged that the Union government would work to disband it.
His statement, made against the backdrop of the ongoing Munambam land dispute, sparked intense political debate in the state.
The Munambam land dispute involves hundreds of families protesting the Waqf Board’s claim to land purportedly donated in 1950.
Gopi’s remarks drew a backlash, with the Congress accusing him of inciting religious tensions. KPCC media panellist VR Anoop filed a formal complaint with the Kambalakkad police in Wayanad, stating that Gopi’s words hurt religious sentiments, encouraged societal division, and posed a threat to social harmony.
At the election convention, Gopi promised that Parliament would soon take action to “bring down” what he described as a “four-letter, uncivilised board”.
The BJP leader further criticised prominent leaders such as Indian Union Muslim League’s PK Kunhalikutty, dismissing them as politically irrelevant and alleging that they were unable to counter the current developments.
He described calls for an out-of-court resolution to the Munambam dispute as a “major scam” and insisted that any solution should come from Parliament, not the judiciary.
The BJP leader’s remarks also come amid criticism of BJP leader B Gopalakrishnan, who faced public condemnation for comments about the Muslim saint Vavar.
The BJP state vice president stirred controversy, ironically at the same election campaign meeting for NDA candidate Navya Haridas in Wayanad’s Kambalakkat. “It is believed that Vavar presides beneath the holy 18 steps at Sabarimala, and tomorrow he will say that it is also a Waqf,” he said.
Vavar or Vavarswami, is the celebrated Muslim acquaintance of the Hindu deity Ayyappan.
IUML leader Kunhalikutty responded sharply, accusing both Gopi and Gopalakrishnan of making provocative statements to incite communal tensions.
In his speech, Gopi emphasised that resolving the issue would not involve the judiciary, which he dismissed as an unnecessary avenue for resolution.
He hinted that the Waqf Bill, previously referred to the Joint Parliamentary Committee, would be a priority in the next Parliamentary session, as the government sought to end what he described as “uncivilised ideologies”.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
