Kerala Waqf Board Row: Vijayan Criticises Non-Muslim Appointments, Accuses Government of Shift

Kerala's Leader of the Opposition, Pinarayi Vijayan, has criticised the state government's decision to appoint non-Muslim members to the Kerala Waqf Board, alleging that it aligns with what he termed the 'divisive agenda' of the Sangh Parivar. Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Vijayan called the move 'shocking and surprising' and accused Chief Minister V.D. Satheeshan of branding opponents as communalists.

Vijayan claimed that the previous Left government, in office until May 2025, had reconstituted the Board in February 2026 after the term expired but deliberately left two non-Muslim member positions vacant. He said this was despite a requirement under the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development (UMEED) Act, 2025, which mandates inclusion of two non-Muslim members and one Shia member. According to Vijayan, Section 14 of the Act does not specify that the absence of such members would render the Board defunct. The Board continued functioning without non-Muslim members while awaiting a Supreme Court verdict on challenges to the amended Waqf legislation.

Vijayan expressed shock that the state government submitted to the Supreme Court that it would reconstitute the Board in line with the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. He recalled that the previous LDF government and the then-opposition UDF had jointly opposed the amendments, with UDF MPs supporting the challenge in Parliament. However, after the UDF assumed office in May 2025, it reversed its position, which Vijayan described as a 'conspiracy' to implement a divisive agenda. He also criticised the Indian Union Muslim League's stance, accusing it of betraying the community.

Vijayan pointed to the example of Tamil Nadu, where the new government led by C. Joseph Vijay has maintained the previous DMK government's position on the Waqf issue. He urged the Kerala government to continue challenging the amendments in the Supreme Court, as the LDF government had done, and to await a final court decision. He noted that despite several amendments to the Waqf Act over the years, non-Muslims had never been appointed to Waqf Boards, and questioned whether opposing this change amounts to communalism.

Vijayan asked whether aligning with the BJP-led Union government's position constitutes a 'blatant surrender' to the Sangh Parivar's agenda, and questioned if a Congress-led government should adopt the BJP's stance.