Kozhikode: The Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar faction of the Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyathul Ulama has strongly criticised the Kerala government over the reconstitution of the Waqf Board, alleging that the Sunni community has been denied fair representation.
The criticism followed the state government's decision on Friday to dissolve the Waqf Board headed by K S Hamsa, which was constituted by the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in March this year. The government has appointed a new nine-member board, despite more than four years remaining in the previous board's tenure.
The new board is headed by Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader M C Mayin Haji. Its members include IUML leader and MLA Kurukkoli Moideen, Musthafa Faizi, Siras D Capsi, Thodiyoor Muhammed Kunju Maulavi, Sajna Firoz, Jaseem Sabaha, Dr Abdul Majeed Swalahi and C Madina Begham.
The A P faction has expressed displeasure over the exclusion of its leaders from the newly constituted board. An editorial published in Siraj, a Malayalam daily associated with the faction, described the reconstitution as “deceitful” and accused the government of going back on its assurance to ensure proper representation for Samastha in bodies such as the Waqf Board and the Hajj Committee.
The editorial claimed that the decision had hurt the Sunni community, which it described as the majority among Muslims in Kerala. It also highlighted the contribution of Samastha factions to the establishment and management of thousands of mosques, madrassas and religious institutions across the state.
The publication questioned the inclusion of representatives associated with Mujahid and Jamaat-e-Islami organisations while both Samastha factions were left out. It argued that the composition of the board should reflect the interests of the wider Muslim community rather than political considerations.
“The Waqf Board is not a mechanism to protect the interests of any political party,” the editorial stated, emphasising that the board's primary responsibilities include protecting Waqf properties, preventing encroachments and misuse, and ensuring that income from these properties is used for their designated religious and charitable purposes.
The editorial also criticised the IUML over what it described as a failure to ensure fair representation for different sections of the Muslim community.
Meanwhile, the Kerala Muslim Jamaath and the Sunni Yuvajana Sangham have reportedly announced plans to pursue legal remedies and organise protests. Demonstrations are scheduled to take place at district headquarters across Kerala on October 22.
The organisations have warned of stronger protests if the government fails to address their concerns.
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