Waqf Amendment Bill is aimed at protecting rights of ordinary citizens to acquire and safeguard property: K Surendran

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: BJP leader K. Surendran said that those who won elections with the support of Kerala’s 18% Christian voters are now taking a stance against them on the issue of the Waqf Bill. He made this remark while inaugurating a protest march towards the office of MP Shashi Tharoor, who has opposed the Waqf Amendment Bill.

Surendran alleged that the LDF and UDF MPs of Kerala, who claimed to stand with the people of Munambam, had deceived them. "The Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council and the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India have demanded support for the Waqf Amendment Bill. Since Shashi Tharoor won with the unwavering support of the Christian community, he must clarify his position on the Waqf issue. Shashi Tharoor is known for taking independent stands on various issues. If his stands are sincere, he should take a stand in favour of the Waqf Amendment Bill. The amendment is aimed at protecting the rights of ordinary citizens to acquire and safeguard property," Surendran said.

He also called on Kerala’s MPs, including Priyanka Gandhi, to clarify their stance on the demands of Christian churches. He questioned whether MPs from the INDIA alliance stood with the people and facts or with communalism, stating that this was an opportunity for the public to recognize their true position. Kerala had set up a judicial commission against Waqf dominance, but the High Court rejected it. Surendran asserted that a law amendment is the only permanent solution to this issue.