Ernakulam: Sending a clear signal over the Waqf bill and land rights, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) Laity Council has come out against the resolution passed by the state government against the Waqf Amendment Bill brought by the Union government. Supporting the CBCI view, various Christian groups such as CASA also criticised the resolution passed by the state government with the support of the opposition in the state assembly.
As per the open statement that was put forward by the CBCI, the state government and the elected representatives have betrayed the people by passing the resolution.
“It is unfortunate that the state government and the MLAs have passed a resolution in the legislative assembly against the amendment of the Waqf Act, which poses a challenge to people’s lives. The Union government’s move to amend the sections of the Act that can deprive people’s lives, ignoring the idea of nationalism and secularism guaranteed by the constitution, is welcome,” the CBCI statement said.
“The move from the legislators in Kerala is an example of how those who have been preaching secularism are falling into slavery of religious fundamentalism and their vote bank. Their stance against the amendment of the Waqf Act gave people in the state an opportunity to recognise the true face of the people’s representatives of the left and right fronts,” said the personal secretary of a senior Bishop in North Kerala who spoke under conditions of anonymity.
He further added that there are properties in the state, especially in north and central Kerala where the lands of private individuals and trusts are in a direct legal tussle with the Waqf board.
CASA, a prominent Christian right wing group has outrightly condemned the resolution passed by the legislative assembly and said that both the ruling LDF and the UDF has been engaged in vote bank politics to appease one community and thus sideline other communities.
“This is nothing but vote bank politics by the ruling CPI(M) and the Congress in Kerala. They are indirectly promoting terrorism and radical ideology through this. Even more ironic is that both the parties claim themselves as secualr and progressive”, said Kevin Peter, CASA president.
