Rajeev Chandrasekhar accuses CPI(M), IUML of spreading fear over Waqf Act

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar has accused the opposition CPI(M) and the IUML of "spreading fear and misinformation" over the amended Waqf law, saying the issue concerns the rule of law and not religion.

In a Facebook post on Saturday, Chandrasekhar said Parliament had passed a law mandating the inclusion of two non-Muslim members in State Waqf Boards and that the legislation was applicable across the country, including Kerala.

"The Waqf issue is not related to religion. It is related to the rule of law. Instead of telling people the truth, the CPI(M) and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) are once again spreading fear," he said.


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He alleged that the two parties were deliberately circulating misinformation and attempting to communalise the issue for "political gains" rather than respecting a law passed by Parliament.

"Their objective is clear -- to create fear, divide people and portray the BJP as anti-Muslim," Chandrasekhar said.

Drawing parallels with past controversies, the BJP leader claimed that similar campaigns had been carried out against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the abolition of instant triple talaq.

"They claimed the CAA would strip Indian Muslims of their citizenship. Nothing of that sort happened. They also termed the abolition of triple talaq as anti-Muslim, but it instead protected the dignity, rights and security of Muslim women. The same fear-mongering tactic is now being repeated over the Waqf law," he said.

Chandrasekhar further alleged that the CPI(M) and the Congress were the "real communal parties" that had perfected the politics of appeasement.

"The BJP is the only party that stands for all Malayalis without fear, bias or appeasement," he added.

His remarks came days after the Kerala High Court, in an interim order on July 15, restrained the State Waqf Board from taking any major decision without its permission.

The High Court observed that Section 14 of the United Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, which mandates the inclusion of non-Muslim members on the Board, had not been stayed by the Supreme Court.

The court noted that the constitution of the Kerala State Waqf Board prima facie did not conform to the statutory requirement as it did not include non-Muslim members.

Following the order, the opposition CPI(M) accused the UDF government of "completely surrendering" to the BJP by deciding to implement the amended Waqf Act, including the provision for appointing two non-Muslim members to the Board.

Kerala General Education Minister N Samsudheen on Saturday said the UDF government had the right to reconstitute the State Waqf Board appointed by the previous LDF administration and that the process would be carried out in due course in accordance with the law.