Thiruvananthapuram: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said Tuesday that the WAQF Act is not targeting Muslims and that the government is correcting long-standing mistakes through legal amendments.
At a press conference in Kochi, the minister noted that some people were spreading misinformation, which showed the government targeted the Muslim community, which he described as completely incorrect. He added: “We will make sure that events like Munambam are not repeated anywhere in the country and serve the people of Munambam.”
Rijiju explained that without a legal amendment, there is a risk of declaring any land as WAQF land. “Our government has proposed amendments after recognizing this danger,” he noted.
The union minister urged the Kerala government to take immediate action to resolve the Munambam issue. He called on regional collectors to direct the investigative specialist to review all the steps taken so far.
Rijiju stressed: “Both the Nature Party and the UDF should avoid participating in voting banking politics. It is necessary to serve in Munambam and the community should not be regarded as a voting bank. The Muslim community should not become a voting bank in Congress or the Communist Party.”
He said the Munhambam people may need to continue their legal struggle. Since the issue has been considered by the court, he suggested that resolutions should be sought through legal channels. Recent amendments have changed the power and structure of the WAQF Tribunal. Therefore, if they disagree with the court’s ruling, those affected can approach the High Court or the Supreme Court for remedies.
Technically, it can be asserted that the problems in Munambam will be resolved through the court system, Rijiju said.
BJP Governor Rajiv Chandrasekhar claimed that the state government is trying to deny the constitutional rights of the people of Munhambam. He questioned why part of the Muslim League (UDF) was challenging the Supreme Court amendment.
Kiren Rijiju held a public meeting in Munambam later that night, titled “Tonge You Modi -Bahujana Kootayama”. The purpose of the meeting was to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the coalition government for passing the WAQF bill, which would protect families and livelihoods living in Munambam.
The program is organized by exciting people to thank you for introducing the center of the bill. Kerala WAQF Board owns ownership of 404 acres in Munambam where 610 families are primarily Christians and Hindus, living for generations. They have been inciting for the past 185 days.
Rijiju assured the people of Munambam that the center will take steps to resolve its land problems. “We will intervene to restore the people’s tax rights. After finding a solution to the problem, I will return to Munambam,” he said.
The Union Minister also called on the leaders of the Kochi church.
Meanwhile, CPM, Congress and the Muslim League criticized the BJP for misleading the Munambam people.
Muslim coalition leader PK Kunhalikutty said that once the WAQF Act emerged, the BJP solved the problem. Now, they are talking about resolving resolutions through legal channels.
CPM leader and industry minister P Rajeev accused the BJP of dividing the people on the public line.
Congress blasted union ministers for making false claims.
