Muslim bodies demand Kerala to follow Tamil Nadu and West Bengal in standing against Waqf Amendment Act, Vow nationwide resistance until law is repealed across India
Mohammad bin Ismail & Lubaib Ahmad | Clarion India
NEW DELHI/THIRUVANANTHAPURAM — The recently approved Waqf Amendment Act is facing mounting opposition in Kerala, where Muslim organisations are urging the Left-led state government and opposition parties to unite in passing a joint resolution declaring that the contentious law will not be implemented within the state.
This demand mirrors the steps taken by West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, both of which have clearly opposed the new amendment. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has said her government will not implement the law, while the Tamil Nadu Assembly passed a resolution against it even before it was cleared in Parliament. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin also confirmed that his party, the DMK, will challenge the amendment in the Supreme Court.
Now, Muslim groups in Kerala want similar steps from their government. They see the amendment not just as a legal matter but as a direct threat to their identity, heritage, and religious freedom.
Speaking to the media on Thursday, 10 April, South Kerala Jamiatul Ulama general secretary T. Muhammad Kunji Maulvi said,
“Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister Stalin has already taken a bold step. We expect the same from Kerala’s government. They must show they are with the Muslim community in this time of crisis.”
Several Muslim organisations also held a march to the Raj Bhavan in protest. The demonstrators shouted slogans against the law, calling it undemocratic and communal.
Maulvi Kadakkal Abdul Aziz, president of the Kerala Muslim Jamaat Federation, did not hold back in his criticism:
“This is not just about property. This is about wiping Muslims out of this country. We will not allow this to happen — not till the last breath of the last Muslim here. Today it’s Raj Bhavan, tomorrow it will be Parliament.”
The crowd that marched included young students, elderly citizens, and religious scholars — all united in their rejection of the law. Some held placards that read “Stop the land grab”, while others carried photos of historical Waqf properties that they fear will now be under threat.
On 3 April, the Lok Sabha passed the Waqf Amendment Bill after a long and heated debate. Despite resistance from many opposition parties, 288 MPs voted in favour and 232 voted against it. Just a day later, on 4 April, the Rajya Sabha passed the bill with 128 votes for and 95 against. On 5 April, President Droupadi Murmu signed it into law.
In simple terms, the law gives more power to government-appointed bodies over Waqf properties, which are religious endowments meant for community welfare. Muslim leaders argue that this law is being used to take away their land and hand it over to private builders or the state.
More than ten petitions have already been filed in the Supreme Court, calling the law unconstitutional and biased. Political parties and legal experts are also questioning how a religious community’s property rights can be controlled by the state.
Also read: Police Crack Down on Waqf Act Protestors at Calicut Airport; Dozens Injured, Six Held
Advocate Yusuf Rahmani, who is helping draft one of the petitions, said:
“The new law gives unchecked power to the Waqf Boards, most of which are now filled with people loyal to the ruling party. This is nothing but backdoor grabbing of Muslim land.”
Muslim organisations are also pointing out that only Waqf — the Islamic system of charitable trusts — is being targeted. They ask why similar Hindu endowments, which control massive assets across India, are not facing any such interference.
“Why is the BJP government only interested in Waqf properties?” asked Prof. Abdul Basit, a retired history lecturer from Kozhikode.
“This is part of a larger plan. First, they criminalised triple talaq, then they took away Article 370, then came the CAA. Now they want our lands. What’s next — will they take our mosques too?”
The BJP and its allied groups have often accused the Waqf Boards of corruption and misuse of land. However, Muslim leaders argue that the problems in management do not justify what they see as a full-scale attack on religious autonomy.
“Yes, there may be issues within Waqf management,” said T. Muhammad Kunji Maulvi, “But fix the system, don’t destroy it. Don’t use it as an excuse to snatch everything from us.”
The mood in Kerala is one of defiance and growing anger. Protesters and community leaders are warning that if the law is not rolled back, the movement will spread to other parts of the country.
Youth activist Aisha Fathima, who was part of the protest march in Thiruvananthapuram, said:
“Our grandparents gave land to the Waqf for schools, hospitals, and mosques. Today the government wants to take it away and give it to corporations. This is robbery, not reform.”
Lawyers, academics, and students have started holding study circles to understand the law and its wider impact. Islamic seminaries (madrasas) across Kerala are also holding special classes to educate people about their rights under Waqf law.
Some organisations are planning to raise funds for a country-wide legal campaign.
“We will go door to door if we have to,” said Maulana Shafeeq Thangal, a religious leader from Malappuram.
“But we will not stay silent. This is our land, our trust, and our duty to protect it.”
The two states have set a strong example. Mamata Banerjee’s decision not to implement the law has been praised by Muslim groups across the country. In Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister Stalin’s move to pass a resolution in the Assembly shows what state governments can do when they respect the concerns of minorities.
Kerala’s Muslims are now hoping their leaders will do the same.
“We request Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to listen to us,” said youth leader Muneer Hameed from Kollam.
“If he stands with the BJP and ignores our voices, we will remember it at election time.”
The opposition Congress party in Kerala has so far made no strong statement either. This silence is being seen as a betrayal by many Muslim voters who have supported the party for years.
“Where is Rahul Gandhi now?” asked a protester during the Raj Bhavan march.
“He talks about saving democracy. Well, democracy is dying here. Why is he not speaking up?”
More protests are expected in the coming weeks. Muslim organisations are planning meetings with Dalit and Christian groups, who they believe may be next in line for similar treatment. They want to build a larger coalition to fight what they describe as the government’s anti-minority policies.
Legal battles will also continue. The Supreme Court is expected to begin hearing some of the petitions later this month.
Meanwhile, ordinary Muslims across Kerala are watching closely. For many, this is not just about law or land, but about dignity, rights, and future.
Elderly resident Hajira Umma from Alappuzha summed up the fear in her words:
“We gave our lands to God. Now these people want to take them and sell them to builders. Do we not have any right left in this country?”
