The Church has also expressed concerns regarding the alleged unlawful claims made by the Waqf Board on numerous properties that have been owned by Christian families for generations in the villages of Cherai and Munambam in the Ernakulam district.

The editorial also highlighted the betrayal of the UDF and LDF in promising to assist the victims of Munambam while upholding the Waqf Act, which is said to enforce Sharia law. The editorial compared the impact of the situation to the terrorism that occurred before and after a teacher’s hand was cut off, suggesting that Kerala’s political landscape will be forever changed by the events in Munambam. “This is not a threat but rather the survival politics of the victims,” the editorial stated.

The editorial further asserted that the time has come to address the political unfairness of depriving the 600 families of Munambam of their rightful property through barbaric laws and kangaroo courts. It described the developments in Munambam as a tragic lesson in Malayalam that mirrors similar tragedies across the country. The Waqf Act of 1995, it says, is a ‘curse’ that was forced upon the nation by the Narasimha Rao government.

Pointing to Section 40 of the Act, it explained that the Waqf Board can claim ownership of any property it believes belongs to it, bypassing existing registration laws. According to the editorial, even the High Court has limited power to intervene under current legislation, leaving those with grievances to seek redress solely through Waqf Tribunals.