Waqf repercussions in Kerala : BJP strengthens support among Christians as Congress receives flak from Muslims

Thiruvananthapuram: While the BJP in Kerala is trying to strengthen their rapport with the Christian community using the Waqf law amendment, the Congress and the left parties are trying to counter it using the recent attack on Malayali Christian priests by right wing activists at Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's silence in the Lok Sabha during discussions on Waqf (Amendment) bill and absence of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in the house are causing trouble to the party as various Muslim forums in Kerala have openly flayed it.

The BJP received a major fillip on Friday as around 50 persons from the Christian dominated Munambam coastal village near Kochi joined the BJP as a gratitude for passing the Waqf amendment laws, which is expected to bring relief for around 610 families in the region from the Waqf board's claim on their land.

BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar and other NDA leaders of Kerala received a rousing reception at Munamban on Friday. He said that the elected representatives ignored their plight while the BJP helped them and also assured support until their ownership on the lands were confirmed legally.

He also assured to take forward the request of the people of Munambam, who are on a stir over the last 174 days against the Waqf board's claim on their land, to arrange a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to express their gratitude for the law amendment.

Congress and left-parities are trying to counter the BJP's attempts to enhance rapport with the Christian community, which comes to around 18 percent of Kerala's population, by highlighting the attack on priests by right-wing activists across the country, the latest being the one at Jabalpur.

Opposition leader V D Satheesan of the Congress said that the BJP was trying to mislead the people over the Waqf law amendment as the problem at Munambam was not directly linked with it. The Congress already convinced the church leadership about it. The BJP government at the centre is not taking any steps against the frequent attacks on Christian priests, he criticised.

Meanwhile, Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulma, which is an influential Muslim forum, criticised Priyanka's absence in Lok Sabha and Rahul's silence. An editorial in its mouthpiece 'Suprabhatham' said that Priyanka's absence and Rahul's silence while the BJP was bulldozing the Constitutional rights of Muslims and trying to curtail the unity of the country will always remain as a question.

Congress camps are trying to pacify the Muslim forums by citing Priyanka's clarification on the matter.