Congress, left-parties in tight spot as bishops, imam put pressure for and against Waqf amendment

Thiruvananthapuram: Putting the Congress and left-front MPs in a tight spot, the catholic bishops forums are pressurising the MPs to back the Waqf (amendment) bill citing that many provisions in the existing laws are 'unconstitutional', whereas Muslim religious leaders are urging that all secular minded sections should oppose the bill as it was against the 'religious freedom' prevailing in the country.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently stated that the bill, which was referred to the joint parliamentary committee, will be reintroduced in the ongoing session of the Parliament scheduled to end by this week (April 4). Hence pressure could be building among the Congress and the left-parties to take a call on the matter swiftly. 

While the  Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC) urged that MPs from Kerala should vote in favour of the Waqf (amendment) bill as the existing waqf laws contained 'unconstitutional and unfair' provisions that deny rightful ownership of people over the property they purchased, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) urged that political parties and legislators should adopt an unbiased and constructive approach to this issue.

"Certain provisions in the existing Central waqf act are inconsistent with the Constitution and the secular democratic values of the country. Such provisions must be amended. At the same time, the rights of religious minorities, as guaranteed by the Constitution, must be safeguarded," CBCI said in a statement on Monday.

The Catholic bishops' forums are highlighting the plight of around 600 families of Munambam in Kochi who are on a stir against the waqf board's claim over the properties they purchased.

Meanwhile, Imam of Palayam in Thiruvananthapuram Suhaib Moulavi said while addressing the Eid gah here on Monday that the Waqf (amendment) bill was against the religious freedom prevailing in the country and all secular minded people should oppose it.

"Waqf means wealth of Allah and it needs to be handled with much caution. The proposed amendments will enable political parties in power to intervene in waqf wealth management. Hence it is against religious freedom. Not only believers but all secular minded people should hence oppose it," Suhaib Moulavi said.

While the BJP welcomed the bishop council's call, the Congress and the CPM are yet to react to it even as a resolution was passed unanimously in the Kerala assembly last year against the amendment.

BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar said in a statement that hopefully  all Kerala MPs would support the Waqf (amendment) bill in the interest of all people and not sacrifice the interest of people for petty appeasement politics.