BJP projecting Waqf Act as solution to Munambam issue proved as lies: Kerala CM

Thiruvananthapuram | Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday claimed that the BJP's projection of the Waqf Act as the solution for the Munambam residents' problems was a "complete lie" and this was revealed during the media briefing held by Union Minister of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju at Kochi a day ago.

Vijayan, at a press conference held here, also alleged that the BJP projected the Waqf Act as the only solution for the land ownership issue of the Munambam residents to "muddy the waters" for political gains, all as part of the Sangh Parivar agenda.

He said that the BJP brought Rijiju to Munambam in the hopes of making political gains, but the move failed when the minister said the Act has no retrospective effect and that the people of Munambam will have to take up legal remedies to get back their land rights.

Vijayan said that the organisers of the protest in Munambam were also "shocked" by the union minister's statement that the Act will not be a solution to their problems.

He was referring to the statement by Syro Malabar Church spokesperson Father Antony Vadekkekara who told reporters earlier in the day that the fact the Act was not going to resolve the problems of the Munambam residents, was "disappointing, discomforting and creates apprehensions".

Vadekkekara said that the Church now realises that "political parties have misled the people" and that the Waqf Act was not a solution for the problems of the Munambam residents who will have to seek legal remedies.

At the same time, he also said that Rijiju has promised all help to the Munambam residents in their legal fight and that in a few weeks there will be resolution of their problems.

"We are ready to wait, but there should be a permanent solution to the problem as early as possible," Vadekkekara said.

The CM, during his press conference, also said that while the BJP was using the Waqf Act to make political gains, certain statements by the Leader of Opposition in the state assembly were supporting such attempts by the saffron party.

Satheesan, during the day, while speaking to the media, said that the state government has attempted to scuttle the resolution of the Munambam issue by allowing the State Waqf Board to move the Kerala High Court and get a stay on the proceedings of the existing Waqf Tribunal dealing with the matter.

By the time the stay is vacated, a new tribunal in accordance with the amended Waqf Act will be in place and it will further complicate the issue, he claimed.

He also said that the Congress right from the start was pointing out that the BJP was misleading the people of Munambam by projecting the amended Waqf Act as a solution to their problems.

Besides Satheesan, Vijayan also accused the Congress-ally Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) of helping the BJP's attempts in Munambam by adopting "double standards" with regard to the status of the land in question.

The CM claimed that IUML was disputing the lease agreement in respect of the land in question when it was given in 1967 for setting up a college. "There is a great deal of public sentiment against the League leadership over this decision," he contended.

The Munambam residents, majority of them Christians, have been agitating for the past several months against the Waqf Board's allegedly unlawful claim on their land and properties, despite them having registered deeds and land tax payment receipts.

Kerala Governor remarks about SC ruling 'unacceptable': CM Vijayan

Thiruvananthapuram | Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday termed as "unacceptable" Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar's recent reported remarks about the Supreme Court ruling setting a timeline for Governors to deal with bills passed by the legislature, but said he was not like his predecessor.

Vijayan, at a press conference held here, said that usually a Governor should not take a stand contrary to a SC ruling, but in the instant case, there were "political reasons" for doing so.

"That is what has happened here," the CM said, but added that such a stand was "unacceptable".

Arlekar had termed the apex court ruling as "overreach by the judiciary".

"However, the new Governor is not like his predecessor. He is cooperating with the government in a good way," Vijayan said.

During the press conference, he also answered queries related to the Kerala HC ordering a CBI probe against his Chief Principal Secretary K M Abraham, the protest by female Civil Police Officer (CPO) candidates seeking appointment and whether any action has been recommended against ADGP M R Ajithkumar by the State Police Chief Shaik Darvesh Saheb.

Vijayan said that he will decide what has to be done in the case of Abraham once the legal proceedings reach a particular stage.

He also said that Abraham has informed that he will be challenging the order passed against him.

The Kerala High Court last week had ordered CBI to lodge an FIR and launch a probe against Abraham on a complaint accusing the retired bureaucrat of amassing wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income.

Regarding Ajithkumar, the CM said he has not received any recommendation from the State Police Chief to take action against the ADGP for allegedly making false statements with respect to the disruption of Thrissur Pooram last year.

He also said that till now he has not received any report indicating who was at fault for the Pooram disruption last year.

On the protesting CPO candidates issue, the CM said that only those in the rank list who are eligible for the post are appointed and it is done as per the available vacancies. Merely because someone is in the rank list does not result in their appointment, he added.

He also said that there has been no failure on the part of the government in identifying and filling the vacancies.

Vijayan also said that the PM SHRI project was needed in the state, but there were problems in implementing it as the National Education Policy (NEP) also had to be implemented along with it.

He said that since the state government was against the NEP, further discussions are required to resolve the matter and implement the PM SHRI initiative.

His statement assumes importance as state General Education Minister V Sivankutty recently batted in favour of the PM SHRI project even as CPI(M)-ally CPI expressed its opposition to the initiative.