As Kerala's by-election campaigns heat up in Wayanad, Palakkad, and Chelakkara, the Catholic Church has spotlighted its concerns over the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the ongoing Munambam land dispute, placing both the UDF and LDF in a political quandary. Through a critical editorial in Deepika Daily, the Church has signaled dissatisfaction with both major political fronts, warning that their stances could alienate voters from these communities, potentially pushing them towards the BJP.
The editorial strongly condemned the recent resolution passed unanimously by the Kerala Assembly, which opposed the BJP-led Centre's proposed changes to the Waqf Bill, without addressing the grievances of the Munambam fishing community. Situated in Ernakulam’s coastal belt, Munambam has seen protests over the Waqf Board's claims on lands owned by Christian families for generations, leading the Church to call out both UDF and LDF for their alleged betrayal.
In a region where the Catholic community holds significant influence—particularly in the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency where Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi is contesting—the editorial hints at a shift in support, calling this “survival politics” for affected families. The Church noted that by failing to protect the community’s land rights, both political fronts risk losing support. The editorial further warned that Kerala's political dynamics may be altered by the current developments, drawing parallels to past religiously charged incidents in the state.
The editorial voiced grave concerns over the alleged encroachment tactics enabled by Section 40 of the Waqf Act, 1995, which grants the Waqf Board authority to declare ownership over properties it deems rightfully its own, circumventing existing registration laws. It lamented that such a provision not only deprives families of their long-held lands but also limits legal recourse to Waqf Tribunals, leaving the High Court with minimal intervention rights. This legal framework, described by the Church as a "curse" enacted during the Narasimha Rao era, has left families in Munambam feeling marginalized and dispossessed.
Emphasizing the historical ownership of these properties by Christian families, the editorial questioned the validity of Waqf claims in Cherai, Munambam, and other villages in the Ernakulam district, where generational ownership precedes any Waqf association. The piece painted a grim picture of “kangaroo courts” enforcing what it called “barbaric laws” against the affected families, suggesting that their struggle for justice reflects similar challenges faced across India.
The Church’s stance, according to the editorial, is a message to both UDF and LDF to recognize the plight of the Munambam families or face the political consequences. With both coalitions currently in delicate positions in the ongoing by-elections, the editorial indicates that the Catholic community’s discontent could become a decisive factor at the polls.