Kerala reconstitutes Waqf Board

Kerala Waqf Board reconstitution: Pinarayi Vijayan accuses UDF govt of ‘surrendering to Sangh Parivar diktats’ The Kerala government’s decision to reconstitute the Kerala Waqf Board, in accordance with the Union government’s Waqf (Amendment) Act, has sparked a heated debate, with Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan accusing the State government of ‘betraying’ Kerala’s secular society and minorities. Pinarayi Vijayan, a former Chief Minister, has come down heavily on the State government, stating that it has ‘capitulated’ to the demands of the Sangh Parivar, a Hindu nationalist organisation. He alleged that the State government’s move would undermine the rights and interests of the minority communities in the State..

The Kerala Waqf Board, which oversees the management of Waqf properties, had been in disarray since the Supreme Court struck down its reconstitution by the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in 2020. The Apex Court had ruled that the reconstitution of the Board was in violation of the rules, leading to a stalemate. Now, the Kerala government has decided to reconstitute the Board in accordance with the Waqf (Amendment) Act, which was passed by the Union government in 2022..

This decision has sparked intense protests from Opposition parties, including the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the BJP. UDF’s Opposition Leader, Pinarayi Vijayan, has vowed to resist the decision, stating that it would be a ‘betrayal of the trust reposed in the State government by the minority communities’. He alleged that the State government had ‘succumbed to pressure’ from the Sangh Parivar, which has been lobbying for the reconstitution of the Board in its favour..

The Sangh Parivar has been pushing for the reconstitution of the Kerala Waqf Board on the lines of the Uttar Pradesh Waqf Board, which is controlled by the Hindu nationalist organisation. The UDF has been opposing this move, citing concerns about the implications for the minority communities in Kerala. Pinarayi Vijayan has also accused the State government of ‘betraying’ the trust reposed in it by the minority communities, which had supported the LDF government in the last Assembly elections..

He claimed that the State government’s decision would have far-reaching implications for the secular fabric of Kerala. The Kerala Waqf Board reconstitution is not the only contentious issue that the State government has been facing. The LDF government has been criticized for its handling of the Sabarimala temple issue, which has been a major point of contention between the State government and the Sangh Parivar..

The Sangh Parivar has been lobbying for the re-opening of the Sabarimala temple to devotees who menstruate, which the State government has refused to do, citing court orders. The issue has sparked intense protests from the Sangh Parivar, which has accused the State government of ‘persecuting’ devotees. Critics argue that the State government’s handling of the Sabarimala issue has been ‘haphazard’ and ‘inconclusive’, leading to further polarization in the State..

They have accused the State government of ‘undermining the secular fabric of Kerala’ by failing to implement the court orders. The Kerala government has maintained that it has been following court orders in both the Sabarimala and Waqf Board cases. However, the Opposition has accused the government of ‘playing to the gallery’ by deciding to reconstitute the Board in accordance with the Waqf (Amendment) Act..

The reconstitution of the Kerala Waqf Board is seen as a major setback for the minority communities in the State, which have been opposing the move. Pinarayi Vijayan has vowed to take the State government to court over its decision, stating that it would be a ‘serious breach of the trust reposed in the State government’. The controversy surrounding the reconstitution of the Kerala Waqf Board has set off a chain reaction, with critics accusing the State government of ‘surrendering to Sangh Parivar diktats’..

The debate is likely to continue for some time, with the State government maintaining that it has been following court orders in both cases. The Opposition has vowed to resist the decision, stating that it would have far-reaching implications for the secular fabric of Kerala. The controversy surrounding the reconstitution of the Kerala Waqf Board is a major challenge for the State government, which has been accused of ‘betraying’ the trust reposed in it by the minority communities..

The situation is likely to get tense in the coming days, with both sides vowing to take the matter to its logical conclusion..