Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], March 30 : Kerala BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Sunday welcomed the Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council's appeal to "people's representatives" to vote in favour of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, when it comes up for discussions in Parliament.
"It is the duty of those in politics to care for and address problems and challenges faced by our people. People in #Munambam have suffered and continue to seek a solution to protect their properties and homes," Chandrasekhar said in a post on X.
Around 610 families of Munambam coastal village in the Ernakulam district have been protesting against the claim by the Waqf Board on their land. "So I welcome the request by Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC) to all MPs of Kerala to support the Waqf Amendment Bill," the Kerala BJP chief added.
He said that the Waqf Amendment Bill aims to safeguard the constitutional right to property for all.
"The Bill aims to safeguard the constitutional right to property for all, including the people of Munambam. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the BJP have always strived to ensure this. I sincerely hope all Kerala MPs will support this bill in the interest of all people and not sacrifice the interest of people for petty appeasement politics," he said.
Earlier in a press conference, Chandrasekhar pointed out that the people of Munambam have been protesting for several months over alleged attempts by the Waqf to claim their land.
"Several hundred families in Munambam, a fishing community, are facing land-grabbing attempts, and they have been protesting and striking for months. The Waqf Amendment Bill squarely addresses their pain and concern," he said.
Chandrasekhar criticized opposition leaders, including Congress's Priyanka Gandhi, Ernakulam MP Hibi Eden, and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) MPs, for not speaking up on the issue. He urged them to support the amendment in the interest of the affected families.
"From Priyanka Gandhi, who was recently parachuted into Kerala, to Hibi Eden and the Muslim League MPs representing the state, I join the Catholic Bishops in urging them to support the Waqf Amendment Bill. They must protect the constitutional rights of the people of Munambam, whose land is being taken away," he said.
He further emphasized that MPs have a responsibility to safeguard the interests of their constituents and ensure that no law contradicts constitutional provisions. "It is the duty of every MP to protect the rights of the people they serve. If a law is ultra vires to the Constitution, it must be amended to ensure consistency with constitutional values," he added.
Addressing concerns raised by some political parties, Chandrasekhar rejected claims that the amendment targets any specific community. "This amendment does not infringe on anyone's rights. It aligns the powers and authority of the Waqf with the constitutionally provided rights of every Indian citizen," he asserted.
He accused certain political groups of distorting facts and misleading the public about the bill. "To those trying to mischaracterize this amendment, I say--do not spread misinformation. This is about ensuring justice for affected communities, not about targeting anyone," he said.
Chandrasekhar reiterated that political leaders must focus on resolving real issues rather than engaging in political narratives. "This is a solemn duty of every MP, from Priyanka Gandhi downwards, to address the challenges faced by the people of Munambam and others across the country affected by the Waqf," he said.