Kochi: The Waqf Act is unconstitutional and the land seizures with its pretext have to be opposed, said retired Justice M. Ramachandran. He was inaugurating a public convention organized by the Hindu Aikya Vedi at AJ Hall in Kaloor.
Justice Ramachandran stated the Waqf Act is among the “black laws” in independent India. This law, he further elucidated, was an outcome of the thoughtless actions of the then central government. Land like that in Munambam is being seized under this very law, and therefore it must be repealed. He also lambasted the ruling and opposition parties who debated resolutions in the state assembly without knowing the meaning and significance of the law.
BJP National Executive member Kummanam Rajasekharan presented the key address for the convention. The Congress government, according to him, was granting unwarranted powers to the Waqf Board and remained silent with impending dangers.
The Hindu Aikya Vedi State President, R.V. Babu, elaborated that the demand is not only for amendment of the Waqf Act but that it be repealed altogether. “Will the powers given to the Waqf ever be granted to the Devaswom Boards, which manage Hindu temples?”.
“Even a 1,500-year-old temple was issued a notice under the Waqf Act,” said Valsan Thillankeri, working president, Hindu Aikya Vedi, who presided over the meeting. “They did not spare even a pre-Islamic temple.”.
Looking at the entire situation, BJP State Committee member Shaun George opined that pseudo-secularism was being perpetrated in the country. He called out the Waqf Minister Abdu Rahman as saying that amendments brought on by the Congress government were giving the Waqf Board enough power to claim rights which might even overrule judgments by High Court.
A.P. Ahammed, a social activist, says it is more Muslims who suffer under the Waqf Act. Even the Muslim community wants amendments to the law and these should be implemented urgently.
Other speakers included BJP State Vice President Dr. K.S. Radhakrishnan, social activists Dr. Arif Hussain, writer M.V. Benny, Sun India representative Advocate Thomas Mathew, and Hindu Aikya Vedi leaders like Padma Shri M.K. Kunjol Master and K.P. Sashikala Teacher. Many Hindu organization leaders and social activists were present who expressed their solidarity to the Munambam agitation.
Closing session: RSS South Regional Secretary M. Radhakrishnan addressed and described the convention as irrefutable evidence against the ‘black intention’ of the Waqf Board. He challenged the people to continue conducting protests on the issue and propagate the message at the district, taluk, and panchayat level and unite the victims of Waqf encroachment and fight against this perceived evil.
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