Kerala bishops back Waqf Bill, urge MPs to amend 'unfair' provisions

Cardinal Baselios Cleemis Catholicos urged MPs to support amending the Waqf Act to prevent the Waqf Board's claims on 400 acres in Munambam, long held by Christian residents

- STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE

The Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC) has urged MPs from the state to vote in favour of the Waqf Amendment Bill when it comes up for discussion in Parliament.

KCBC president Cardinal Baselios Cleemis Catholicos (photo) in a statement issued on Saturday, demanded that "when the Bill is taken for debate in Parliament, the people's representatives from Kerala should vote in favour of amending the sections which are unfair and unconstitutional".

The KCBC is a powerful organisation of Catholic bishops in Kerala belonging to the Syro-Malabar, Latin and Syro-Malankara Churches.

Regarding the Waqf Board's claim on around 400-odd acres of land at Munambam in Ernakulam district, which has mainly been in the possession of Christian residents for generations, the Cardinal said: "Various clauses in the Waqf Act, which have prevented the occupants of the land from enjoying their legal rights, should be amended. The Farook College management (in Kozhikode, which sold the land to the occupants), had already stated that the land was gifted to them. Hence, people's representatives should vote in favour of the amendment, which will prevent the Waqf Board from making claims on the land."

MPs from both the CPI-M-led LDF and Congress-led UDF in Kerala have opposed the Waqf Amendment Bill.