Why the Christians of Munambam feel let down by Centre’s Waqf law

On April 4 this year, residents of Munambam, a coastal village in Kerala’s Ernakulam district, erupted in celebration when the Waqf (Amendment) Bill was passed in Parliament. The predominantly Christian fishing community burst firecrackers, praised the BJP, and saw 50 protesters join the party the following day, believing the bill would resolve their ongoing land dispute with the Kerala Waqf Board.

However, Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju’s statement on April 15, during a visit to Munambam, has dampened their hopes, indicating that the legislation does not directly address their issue, leaving protesters disappointed who have vowed to continue their legal fight.

Also read: Munambam land row: Kerala HC stays order quashing judicial panel’s appointment

Rijiju disappoints Munambam

“After the passing of the new Act, we are sure that Munambam will not happen again. We have made the provisions to ensure that nobody will be allowed to suffer the way people there suffered. We have made the law. The Centre will now issue certain directions to the state government to carry out certain steps. We are in the process of formulating a subordinate legislation. We are in the process of framing rules,” this was what Rijiju had to say.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, passed by the Lok Sabha on April 3 and the Rajya Sabha on April 4, was signed into law by President Droupadi Murmu on April 5. It introduces reforms to Waqf property management, including mandatory audits, a centralized portal and limits on the Waqf Board’s authority to declare land as Waqf property.

Also read: Why Congress risks losing ground in Kerala despite opposing Waqf bill

Munambam dispute

The Munambam land dispute involves 404 acres claimed by the Kerala Waqf Board, affecting 610 families, mostly Christian fishermen. Originating in 1902, the Travancore royal family leased the land to Abdul Sattar Seth, a Kutchi Memon trader. In 1950, his successor, Mohammed Siddeeq Sait, donated it to Farook College, Kozhikode, as Waqf property.

From 1983 to 1993, the college sold plots to residents, omitting the Waqf status, leading to legal conflicts. In 2019, the Waqf Board declared the land Waqf, halting tax payments and threatening eviction. Residents, holding deeds and tax receipts, have protested since, supported by the Catholic Church.

BJP backs Christians

The dispute, politicised by the BJP, remains unresolved, with ongoing legal battles in the Kerala High Court and a judicial commission appointed in 2024 to investigate.

Also read: Kerala | Rift in UDF to fore as IUML MP says contentious Munambam property is Waqf land

The church and the BJP were projecting the legislation as a potential solution to their dispute. The community’s optimism was fuelled by the BJP’s active role in their protest, with leaders like newly-appointed state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar visiting the Velankanni Matha Church compound, where the strike has been ongoing for months.

The law’s provisions, particularly those preventing arbitrary land declarations, were seen as a direct response to cases like Munambam’s, where residents faced eviction threats despite legal documentation.

Christians feel let down

However, Rijiju’s clarification that the Waqf (Amendment) Act is prospective and does not automatically resolve existing disputes like Munambam’s has sparked disappointment.

“We welcomed the minister, thinking he’d bring good news. Instead, we’re told to fight in court again. This feels like a betrayal. If it doesn’t help us, we’ll take our fight to Delhi and the Supreme Court,” said one of the protesters after the minister’s programme.

Also read: Kerala: Munambam land not Waqf property, says VD Satheesan

The community plans to seek meetings with central and state officials while preparing for renewed protests -- and legal battle.

CPI(M)’s dig at BJP

“We are thankful to minister Rijiju for making it clear that the legislation will not benefit the people of Munambam,” said K Anilkumar, a state committee member of CPI(M).

“The BJP was trying to stir communal tensions in the name of Munambam, just as it did in Bengal. It tried to draw in the church and bishops to align with it in order to isolate the Muslim community. Now, they’ve been let down. Rijiju’s statement has only reinforced why BJP leaders cannot be trusted,” he said.

Congress blames CPI(M)

The Congress, while largely echoing similar concerns, placed the blame on the CPI(M) for mishandling the situation at the state level. Meanwhile, the CPI(M) countered by accusing the United Democratic Front (UDF) of aggravating the matter by bringing the Waqf issue to the forefront back in 2019.

“Rijiju’s statement has exposed the BJP’s betrayal of the people of Munambam,” said AICC general secretary KC Venugopal, a MP. “The BJP must apologise for misleading the faithful by claiming that the Waqf Bill would resolve the Munambam issue. The blatant lie spread by the BJP on the Munambam matter has now been corrected by none other than their own minister,” Venugopal added.

Also read: Vavar mosque: BJP taps Sabarimala season to trigger Waqf controversy

Christians to fight on

An event attended by Rijiju was organized to express gratitude to the Modi government for the Waqf legislation. It ended up being a disappointment — not just for the protesters but also for the BJP’s political strategy

“When Rijiju visited, Munambam was in a festive mood. But nothing we hoped for actually happened,” said Joseph Rocky, chairman of the Munambam Protest Committee. “It has been three years and three months since 615 families lost their revenue rights. For two years and seven months, the people of Munambam stood with the state government. We never hurt the government, either through protest or harsh words. But when it became clear that nothing was going to change, we began our hunger strike. Today, we were in a celebratory spirit, hoping the Central government would come and lift us up. But it did not live up to our expectations,” Rocky said.

Also read: Kerala Waqf land dispute: Munambam protesters seek ‘permanent solution’

Alienating Christians

The BJP had been carefully coordinating the Munambam protests with the systematic and full backing of the Church. However, the resurfacing of an article in Organiser -- shortly after the introduction of the Waqf Bill — threw a spanner in the works.

The article claimed that the Catholic Church is the largest landowner in the country and hinted at the need for a Church Bill to regulate it, putting the saffron party on the backfoot.

Although Organiser later withdrew the piece, the damage was done. Both the CPI(M) and the Congress in Kerala were quick to seize the opportunity, highlighting that the BJP can never truly be minority-friendly. The recent denial of permission for a Palm Sunday procession in Delhi, citing security reasons, only further hurt the BJP’s image among Christian communities.

Church and BJP

However, the local church — which continues to place its hope in the Union government — remains the only silver lining for the BJP as it attempts a reconciliation.

Father Antony Tharayil, vicar of the Kadappuram Velankanni Matha Church — the focal point of the ongoing protest by Munambam residents demanding land rights — said the agitators had submitted several questions to Rijiju regarding the Waqf amendment and the Centre’s approach to resolving the issue.

Also read: Kerala | No one should be displaced over Munambam Waqf land row: CPI

“The minister’s visit has given us hope. He assured that a solution to the Munambam issue would be found within three weeks,” Father Tharayil said. He added that once the minister was made aware of the ineffectiveness of the legal route, he indicated that the government was exploring alternative solutions. The vicar reiterated that the protest would continue until the residents’ demands were fully met.

The BJP maintains that, in the light of the Waqf Amendment Bill, it would now be easier for the protesters to advance their litigation.