Munambam waqf issue: Difference of opinion in Samastha; Muslim League in crisis

MALAPPURAM: Samastha's mouthpiece and a section of its leaders have come forward rejecting the Muslim League's stand that Munambam land should be handed over to the residents, raising concerns that it will complicate the solution to the problem. The mouthpiece claims that it is waqf property.

President Jifri Muthukoya Thangal made it clear that this is not Samastha's stand and that Samastha is only studying the Munambam issue. Samastha is divided into two factions on this subject. The latest development comes at a time when the chief minister has convened a high-level meeting on the 22nd to resolve the issue.

Sunni Yuvajana Sangam (SYS) state secretary Mustafa Mundupara said in an article in the mouthpiece that the Waqf Board is responsible for waging a legal battle to get back the land and the Waqf property issues are not something that should be resolved because of interests and adjustments.

At the SKSSF Adarsha Sammelanam, which met in Kozhikode the other day, Mushawara member Umar Faizi Mukkam had said that Samastha's stand was that the land was waqf land itself. Following this, Samastha leader Abdusamad Pookkottur came to the fore rejecting Umar Faizi. Abdusamad Pookkottur said that it is for the Samastha leadership to give an opinion and what someone says at a public meeting or anywhere else cannot be seen as Samastha's stand.

The Muslim Co-ordination Committee meeting held in Kozhikode under the leadership of the Muslim League had decided to hand over the land to the residents. A different view is being raised by the leaders of the anti-League faction in Samastha.

Sadikhali Thangal will speak to the bishop

The League has decided to create requirements for Panakkad Sadikhali Thangal to speak directly to the bishops if the government does not take the initiative to resolve the issue. National general secretary PK Kunhalikutty said that the stand is that the issue should be resolved amicably. A meeting of Muslim organisations has made it clear that residents should not be evicted.

"The problem can be resolved quickly. There is a heavy price to be paid for the government's decision being delayed. The Muslim community is being put in the dock. The BJP is taking advantage of this," Kunhalikutty said.