Rijiju: Amended Waqf Act to prevent issues like Munambam

Kochi: Union minister of minority affairs Kiran Rijiju on Tuesday said the new provisions introduced in the Waqf Act would prevent incidents like the Munambam land dispute in the future. "As a responsible govt, we took important steps. We passed this act after thorough discussion, and we hope that in the future we will not see cases like Munambam," he said.
Rijiju told a news conference here that the amended act would benefit the people of Munambam when the matter would be taken up by the court. The govt's intention is to ensure that, in India, no one could "forcibly and unilaterally" take away someone else's land, he said. "This is not targeted at the Muslim community. It is to correct mistakes of the past and provide justice to the people," he said.
The minister urged the state govt to instruct the district collector to prepare a fresh report on the Munambam dispute, replacing the existing one prepared by the survey commissioner. "As minister of minority affairs and chairman of the Central Waqf Council, we will issue directions and suggestions to the state govt... The district collector must re-examine the matter to provide justice to Munambam fishermen. The state govt should also extend full support to ensure justice is delivered," he said.
To queries if the amended law had retrospective effect, he said the district collector revisiting the status of the survey would help bring the issue under the purview of the amended Act, as the Munambam matter was being dealt with under the earlier waqf provisions.
The minister alleged that the Congress and Communist parties were treating the Muslim community as a vote bank, thereby causing societal divisions. "The waqf disputes can involve anyone -- Hindus, Christians or others -- as seen in the Munambam case. The Communists and Congress say the waqf board should comprise only Muslims. If it's a matter strictly among Muslims, then that may be valid. But since disputes can involve people of any religious background, we've ensured the majority of the board will remain Muslims, without taking away their authority," he said.
Rijiju further stated, "We are one hundred per cent sure that cases such as Munambam will not happen again in India. It cannot happen because we made the legal provisions clear and strong. Nobody should suffer the way the innocent fishermen of Munambam suffered; their pain and agony is something anyone can feel."
He also accused West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee of "inciting violence" in her state through her opposition to the implementation of the law. On her remarks that she would not implement the law, he asked: "She is sitting in a constitutional position and the law is passed by a constitutional body, then how can she say that she will not follow something that is constitutional."
Union minister of state of minority affairs and fisheries George Kurian and BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar also attended the news conference.
The Union minister also visited the Varapuzha Archdiocese to meet Archbishop Joseph Kalathiparambil. During the interaction, the archbishop expressed concern over the attacks against Christians in various parts of the country. He also urged Rijiju to find a permanent solution to the Munambam dispute in a timely manner.
The archbishop also requested the restoration of Anglo-Indian representation in Parliament and special consideration for Latin Catholics in Kerala as a backward minority. Kalathiparambil said the minister responded that the govt's stance was to sympathetically consider the demands of the Christian community.
Later in the day, Rijiju also visited the people of Munambam and addressed a gathering. MSID:: 120316220 413 |