The premises of Velankanni Matha Church in Munambam had a festive atmosphere on Tuesday, April 15, after months of protests and a hunger strike. That evening, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had organised a programme, ‘Thank You Modi’, aimed at projecting Munambam – a coastal village in Ernakulam district – as a key example to justify the controversial Waqf Amendment Act, which has sparked nationwide opposition.
BJP leaders from across the country have repeatedly cited Munambam to counter criticism against the Act. But the assurances that the residents were looking for from Union Minister Kiren Rijiju fell short of their expectations.
Munambam drew the nation's attention as the coastal village witnessed months-long protests against the Waqf Board, which claimed that the land that was occupied by around 600 families was Waqf property.
Crowds began gathering at the church compound well before the scheduled time of 4 pm, eagerly waiting for Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju to inaugurate the event. Families from Munambam arrived in groups, expressing hope that the new law would resolve their long-standing issue. The crowd waited patiently as the Minister eventually arrived by 5:45 pm.
Traditionally a Congress stronghold, Munambam witnessed a political shift after the Waqf Board laid claim to ancestral land owned by many residents. On April 15, they even opened the gates of their church for the event organised by the BJP.
Speaking to the media in Kochi before the address, Rijiju said the residents may still need to pursue legal remedies, as the matter was sub judice. “From now onwards, there will be no cases like Munambam. There will not be an arbitrary declaration of Waqf property. Now any property which is under dispute or under legal proceedings cannot be settled as Waqf property. If it is under legal proceedings, it will be decided by the court. A new declaration will not be allowed,” he said.
Addressing the residents inside the church, he struck a more hopeful tone. “The drafting of the rules has begun. Once the process is completed, we will direct the Kerala government and the state Waqf Board to take necessary steps to protect the interests of Munambam residents. The state government must provide all relevant documents and assistance to ensure that the 600 innocent families here regain their land rights,” he said.
But he also cautioned them about the case being sub judice, saying, “If there is an appeal in front of a tribunal, as a minister, I must respect the judiciary. That's why I am not giving a deadline, but that doesn’t mean that your issue will not be settled.”
He also criticised the Congress and Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)), saying the issue was being ignored by these parties as they viewed people as a vote bank and there were not enough villagers for them to consider this as a serious issue.
For the past two years, the affected residents have been engaged in a legal battle to protect their property. After 185 days of hunger strike, the protesters expected a permanent solution from the Minister.
“We were expecting a concrete solution. He assured us that he would return soon – within three weeks – after the drafting of all rules and guidelines. He also said that Munambam would be given special consideration and the state government would be instructed to act as per the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2025. But we will continue our protest until we fully understand how this bill will help us reclaim our land,” said Father Antony Xavier, Vicar of Velankanni Matha Church.
It was only a few days ago that the coastal village raised slogans supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi following the passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. A village resident from the fisher community, Sunil stated, “Other parties offered us land instead of our home and property in Munambam, but now we feel that we will be able to get our ancestral land back.”
The community is not entirely satisfied, though. They had expected the amendment to be a definitive resolution to their prolonged suffering. Historically supporters of CPI(M) and INC, many in the community felt betrayed by what they described as empty promises by the two parties.
“The land I live on belonged to my father, and suddenly we are told it’s not ours anymore,” said Shiny Martin, a resident who attended the programme. “All the other political parties promised help, but it was all fake. The BJP is the only party that has stood with us. If they help us reclaim our land and provide a permanent solution, then Munambam will stand with Modi and the BJP,” she added.
BJP leaders, including Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs George Kurian and state BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, also attended the event.
Munambam is home to a large fishing community, the majority of them being Christians. For over a century, more than 600 families have been living in the area claimed by the Waqf Board. In 1902, the land in the Manambam area was purchased by Siddique Saith from the King of Cochin.
On November 1, 1950, Siddique donated this property to Farook College, Kozhikode. He gave this as a gift to the institution, with all the right to use or sell this property. This led to friction between the college and the tenants. In 1975, the High Court of Kerala ruled in favour of Farook College. After years of discussion, in 1987, an out-of-court settlement was reached, and the tenants legally bought the land from Farook College. The problem again arose when the residents of Munambam found themselves unable to pay land tax in 2022, as the Waqf Board claimed their property.