Syro-Malabar Church affirms solidarity with Munambam protesters

Syro-Malabar Church and Kerala Council of Churches support Munambam residents facing displacement over Waqf property issue, urging government intervention.

The Syro-Malabar Church has affirmed its solidarity with the people of Munambam who are facing the “threat of displacement” over the Waqf property issue.

The State government must urgently intervene in the issue, since hundreds of families are facing the threat of displacement from the land that they had purchased, registered in their names, and were residing in for decades, said Fr. Antony Vadakkekara, spokesperson of the Church while addressing the residents who have been agitating over the issue for the past many days. The government and all political parties must be sensitive towards their cause. They must facilitate an amicable settlement and must also be vigilant about the issue leading to polarisation on communal lines, he added.

The Kerala Council of Churches too has expressed its solidarity with the agitating residents of Munambam. Addressing them, its general secretary Prakash P. Thomas alleged that statements issued by individuals on ‘reclaiming’ the said land from the residents were dangerous. Waqf rules must be amended, to prevent ‘misuse’ of its provisions. The Legislative Assembly must pass a resolution in this regard, he added.