CPI(M) accuses UDF govt over Waqf Board stand; BJP hails court order

Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 16 (PTI) The Kerala High Court's interim order restraining the State Waqf Board from taking major decisions triggered a political row on Thursday, with the opposition CPI(M) accusing the Congress-led government of "betraying minorities and Kerala's secular society", while the BJP hailed the ruling as "a victory for justice." The Kerala High Court on Wednesday, through an interim order, 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, has not been stayed by the Supreme Court. The court further said the constitution of the Kerala State Waqf Board prima facie appeared to be not in conformity with the statutory mandate, as non-Muslims were not included on it. The CPI(M) alleged that the High Court's interim order came after the state submitted that there was a requirement to reconstitute the Board in strict compliance with the mandate of Section 14 of the United Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995. In a statement, the party state secretariat alleged that the government's stand was in line with the BJP's "communal agenda" and asked whether the UDF had changed its position as part of an understanding with the BJP. "The UDF government has committed a grave betrayal of minorities and Kerala's secular society by taking the stand before the High Court that the Waqf Board can be reconstituted in line with the BJP's communal agenda," the party said. The CPI(M) claimed that the government had agreed to the demand in a petition filed by BJP state vice-president Shone George seeking the reconstitution of the Waqf Board. "Every policy position taken by the UDF government since assuming office clearly reflects the Sangh Parivar agenda," it alleged. The CPI(M) said the previous LDF government had unanimously passed a resolution in the Kerala Assembly against the amendments to the Waqf Act brought by the BJP-led Centre. "After coming to power, why has the UDF shifted to a pro-BJP position? As part of what deal has this happened? Do the constituent parties of the UDF, including the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), agree with this," the statement asked. It also referred to the High Court proceedings and claimed that, when the Chief Justice asked whether the government agreed with the BJP leader's plea, the Advocate General replied that the government fully supported it. "It is clear that the government's stand on the Waqf Board is a continuation of the understanding it had earlier reached with the BJP," the CPI(M) alleged, urging organisations supporting the Muslim League to clarify their stand. The party further alleged that the amendments to the Waqf Act were part of the RSS's long-term agenda to divide people and claimed that the CPI(M) and the Left had strongly opposed the legislation in Parliament. It also criticised the BJP's claim that the amendments were intended to benefit minorities. "If helping minorities was really the objective, why has the BJP not restored minority scholarships? Why has it not stopped the killings taking place across the country in the name of beef," the statement asked. The CPI(M) alleged that the purpose of the amendments became clear when the Waqf Board in Madhya Pradesh was reconstituted with BJP leader and Minister Sanwar Patel as its chairman. "The question now is whether the government plans to appoint people recommended by the Sangh Parivar to the Waqf Board," it said. Meanwhile, in a Facebook post, Kerala BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar welcomed the Kerala High Court's order, saying it marked "a victory for justice, the Constitution and every ordinary citizen". Chandrasekhar said the "rule of law has prevailed" and welcomed the High Court's order restraining the Waqf Board from taking major decisions for violating the Central Waqf Act. "This is a victory for justice, the Constitution and every ordinary citizen," he said in the post. The BJP leader said the Narendra Modi-led Central government had amended the Waqf Act "to ensure transparency, accountability and justice". He alleged that the Congress and the CPI(M) had "given priority to vote-bank politics over the rights of ordinary people" and noted that both parties had passed a resolution in the Kerala Legislative Assembly opposing the amendments. "Not two, but one," Chandrasekhar said, referring to the Congress and the CPI(M). He also said that "in New India, everyone is equal before the law" and asserted that "no institution, organisation or individual is above the Constitution or the laws of the country". "Justice must always triumph over appeasement politics," Chandrasekhar added. PTI TGB KH