Waqf board row: State brazenly surrendering to Sangh Parivar agenda, says Pinarayi Vijayan

Kerala Assembly LoP Pinarayi Vijayan | Photo credit: PTI

The state government’s move to appoint non-Muslim members to the Kerala Waqf Board is tantamount to signing up for the divisive agenda of the Sangh Parivar in Kerala, Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan said. Describing the state’s move as “shocking and surprising”, Mr Vijayan criticized Chief Minister VD Satheeshan’s attempt to portray those opposed to the government’s decision as communalists and minority appeasement advocates.

Addressing a press conference on Saturday, Mr. Vijayan alleged that Mr. Satheeshan was misguiding the people of the state regarding the reconstitution of the Waqf Board. He said the previous Left government reconstituted the board in February 2026 after the tenure of the previous board expired. However, it has deliberately not filled the two posts reserved for non-Muslim members, despite the requirement under the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development (UMEED) Act, 2025, as directed by the Centre.

The law requires the inclusion of two non-Muslim members and one Shia member on the board. However, Mr. Vijayan said that Section 14 of the UMEED Act does not state that the absence of these members would cause the Waqf Board to dissolve. Accordingly, the Council continued to function without non-Muslim members pending the Supreme Court’s final verdict on petitions filed by the state government and the Waqf Board challenging the amended Waqf legislation.

Meanwhile, the state government’s claim in the court that it would reconstitute the Waqf Board under the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 has shocked all stakeholders, Mr. Vijayan said. He recalled that when the LDF challenged the amended legislation, the then opposition UDF joined the protest and its MPs supported the LDF’s bid in Parliament to restore the status quo.

However, after assuming office in May, the UDF government did a complete U-turn on the issue, as part of a larger conspiracy to implement the divisive agenda of the Sangh Parivar in Kerala. Those who tried to expose this alleged relationship were now labeled communalists and minority appeasement advocates by the Chief Minister, he said.

Mr. Vijayan also criticized the Indian Union Muslim League’s stand on the issue, saying it amounted to a betrayal of the community. Citing Tamil Nadu as an example, he noted that the newly elected government led by C. Joseph Vijay has not deviated from the stand taken by the previous DMK government under MK Stalin on the Waqf Board issue.

All stakeholders are of the opinion that the current Kerala government should follow the example of the former LDF government and the Tamil Nadu government by continuing to challenge the provisions of the Waqf (Amendment) Act in the Supreme Court. “Let the court arrive at a final decision after examining all aspects of the dispute. Until then, the state government should support the legal challenge by providing all necessary assistance,” Vijayan said.

He further said that despite several amendments to the Waqf Act over the years, non-Muslims have never been appointed as members of Waqf Boards. The amendment introduced by the BJP-led Union government sought to change a practice that had existed for over a century. “Does it seem opposed to such a move to spread communalism?” he asked.

“Does not aligning with the BJP-led Union government’s stance amount to a blatant capitulation of the Sangh Parivar agenda? Can the Congress chief minister accept the BJP’s stance?” asked the leader of the opposition.

Published – 25 Jul 2026 14:07 IST