Munambam land issue: Kerala govt must intervene, says IUML

Kozhikode: The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) in Kerala demanded the state government intervene in the Munambam land issue and meet a resolution. The party leader PK Kunhalikutty said that it will support the government's decision, PTI reported.

The IUML national general secretary warned that any delay in the government's intervention in the issue would allow communal groups to promote divisive sentiments by targeting specific communities, he said.

"It is actually a technical issue, and the residents are not guilty in any way. During the tenure of VS Achuthanandan as Chief Minister, technical glitches occurred. The state government should take the lead in resolving the issue," Kunhalikutty said.

He further said that in a meeting of Muslim organisations convened by IUML state president Panakkad Sadikali Shihab Thangal on Friday, the general opinion was that the government should initiate steps for an out-of-court settlement to resolve the issue.

His statement comes amidst growing resentment among a significant portion of the Christian population regarding the LDF and UDF's stance on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, introduced by the BJP-led Centre.

The two fronts had recently unanimously passed a resolution in the state assembly opposing the BJP-led Centre's Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which challenges provisions in the existing Waqf law.

In support of the bill, the Church has alleged that numerous properties belonging to Christian families for generations in the villages of Cherai and Munambam in the Ernakulam district have been unlawfully claimed by the Waqf Board using provisions of the existing Act.

In Cherai and Munambam villages in Ernakulam district, residents have alleged that the Waqf Board was unlawfully laying claim to their land and properties despite the people having registered deeds and land tax payment receipts.

According to the residents who are protesting against it, their land was given to Farooque College Kozhikode in 1950 for educational purposes.

They say it was not Waqf land, and they paid the college management for the land.

The case relating to the property dispute is pending in the high court.