Dharwad (Karnataka) [India], April 1 : After the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC) supported the Waqf Amendment Bill proposed by the centre, Karnataka Deputy Leader of Opposition and Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Arvind Bellad affirmed that the Waqf (Amendment) Bill is a huge reform to the Waqf bill which has "created a huge havoc."
Speaking with ANI, Arvinde Bellad said, "Waqf Amendment is a huge reform. It (Waqf Bill) has created a huge havoc, not only among Hindus but also Muslims. So, it has draconian powers. It has power which are beyond Constitution."
Stressing the need of amendments, Bellad said that BJP is rightfully amending the law.
"I think that particular law needs major amendments and rightfully so our party, our BJP Government is amending the law," he said.
Earlier, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju also welcomed the support of (KCBC) and asserted that the proposed bill is not against any community while calling out the "propaganda" being spread around it.
"This act is not against any community - that is propaganda being spread to poison minds of some," Rijiju posted on X, adding, "I welcome the request by Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC) to all MPs of Kerala to support the Waqf Amendment Bill as a Minister and as a minority community member."
Reacting to the support extended by the Bshop's Council, the Union Minister argued that it was the duty of those in politics to address the challenges faced by the people while highlighting the struggle of hundreds of families in Kerala's Munambam to protect their properties.
"It is the duty of those in politics to care for and address problems and challenges faced by our people. For example, hundreds of families in Munambam, Kerala, have suffered and continue to seek a solution to protect their properties and homes," Rijiju added.
The statement issued by Fr. Thomas Tharayil of the KCBC secretariat said that provisions in the Waqf law, which legitimise the "illegal claims" in such a way that people in Munambam are unable to exercise their revenue claims on the land, need to be amended.
"The Farooq College management, which sold the land to the residents of Munambam, has asserted that the land in question was received as a gift, the MPs should cooperate to amend the waqf bill Which has provisions to raise claims against this. KCBC will send letter to each MPs requesting to vote in favour of amending waqf bill," KCBC said in a statement.
Around 610 families of Munambam, a coastal village in the Ernakulam district, have been protesting against the claim by the Waqf Board on their land.