‘Waqf board is claiming land of other religions’

Kochi: Union minister of state for labour and employment Shobha Karandlaje alleged that the waqf board was attempting to claim ownership of lands, temples, and churches where other religious communities have lived for ages. She compared this to love jihad, where young men and women from other religions are converted to Islam. The minister, who was on a one-day visit to Kochi, spoke in solidarity with the ongoing hunger strike organized by the land protection committee against the waqf encroachment in Munambam on Thursday."When the Constitution was drafted in 1950, the term ‘waqf' was not even included. The Waqf Act was created in 1954 under the pretext of protecting the land of Muslims who migrated to Pakistan after the partition. According to an amendment made in 1995, the waqf can claim any land it considers its own. Other communities residing there for years cannot file a complaint in any court and can only rely on the waqf tribunal, which consists solely of Muslim members," she said.She claimed that in 1954, the waqf board had less than 10,000 acres of land but now it has 3.8 million acres. "They should clarify how this happened," she said, adding that these land claims are happening not just in Kerala but across the country.The Union minister said that the Centre stands with those who are denied justice. BJP state vice-president Major Ravi was among those present with the minister. She also chaired a review meeting with the officials of the coir board at its office in Kochi and visited the ESIC hospital at Pathalam, where she interacted with the staff and patients.BJP communalising waqf issue: MinMeanwhile, state industries minister P Rajeeve on Thursday said that BJP was bent on communalising the waqf land issue at Munambam.He said that while the BJP leaders never visited Manipur during the riots, they are rushing to Munambam where the issue is not pertaining to any religion. The state is trying to find a permanent solution to the issue, he said."They are rushing here, why can't they visit Manipur also?," he asked. "Despite so much violence happening there, the Prime Minister has still not visited Manipur," he said.
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