PM Modi resolved Munambam issue ignored by Kerala leaders: Rajeev Chandrasekhar

Thiruvananthapuram: BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar claimed on Sunday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has resolved the long-pending issues faced by 610 families in Munambam where residents had been struggling for the past six years to protect their properties from claims by the Waqf Board.

Speaking at a party meeting held in connection with the BJP’s 45th foundation day celebrations here, Chandrasekhar alleged that no political leader or party in Kerala had made any sincere effort to address the plight of the residents of Munambam, a coastal village in Ernakulam district.

“For six years, these families have been fighting to safeguard their land and homes, but no one stepped in to help,” he said.

He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP-led NDA government's efforts to amend the Waqf Act to resolve the issue.

“It was Narendra Modi who stepped up and provided a solution through the Waqf (Amendment) Bill,” Chandrasekhar said.

The residents of Munambam village, who are mostly Christians, have been agitating for the past several months, alleging that the Waqf Board is unlawfully claiming their land and properties, despite them having registered deeds and land tax payment receipts.

The BJP state chief accused both the CPI(M) and the Congress of indulging in appeasement politics, claiming they were now attempting to mislead the public by saying the new law would not benefit the people of Munambam.

“They are spreading blatant lies. Their only political strategy is appeasement,” the technocrat-turned-politician alleged.

Taking a swipe at the CPI(M)-led LDF government, Rajeev Chandrasekhar said that while corruption was once considered the monopoly of the Congress, it has now found a place under the Left as well.

"In Kerala, a public sector company is transferring funds to the bank account of the Chief Minister’s daughter’s firm," he alleged in a veiled attack on the 'illegal payment' scam in which Pinarayi Vijayan's daughter T Veena's company received amounts without providing any service.

Chandrasekhar criticised the Chief Minister’s justification that GST was paid on the transaction, questioning, “Does paying tax make corruption money legitimate?” “This is the situation in Kerala—there are no discussions on investment, development, or employment,” he further alleged.

In contrast, he claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP have transformed the political culture of the country and brought significant progress across all sectors, including investment and employment. “India is now rapidly moving towards becoming the world’s third-largest economy,” he added.

Chandrasekhar further stated that bringing change in Kerala would only be possible if the BJP-led NDA comes to power.