Sun Nov 03 14:01:24 UTC 2024: ## Kerala Government Steps In To Resolve Munambam Land Dispute Amidst Communal Tensions
**Kochi, November 3, 2024:** The Kerala government is intervening to defuse tensions and resolve the ongoing land dispute in Munambam, which has escalated into a potential crisis threatening social harmony and sparking communal polarization.
The government will convene a high-level meeting next week to discuss the issue, with the Chief Minister presiding over the meeting. Ministers handling the portfolios of Waqf, Law, and Revenue, as well as representatives of the Kerala Waqf Board will attend the meeting. This marks the first official government intervention in the dispute.
State Waqf Minister V. Abdurahiman confirmed the government’s involvement in a social media post, stating that “deliberations have been initiated to amicably solve the Munambam issue.” He emphasized the government’s commitment to addressing the concerns of all stakeholders and preventing communal division.
The dispute has seen approximately 600 families in Munambam protesting the potential eviction from their land, which the Kerala Waqf Board claims as Waqf property. The residents, who claim to have purchased the land from Farook College, have questioned the validity of the Waqf deed. Sangh Parivar organizations have pledged their support to the residents, opposing what they perceive as attempts by the board to seize the properties.
The Waqf Board has denied any plans to evict the residents, asserting that the matter is pending before various courts, including the Kerala High Court.
The government’s intervention comes amidst calls from various stakeholders, including sections of the Church and Muslim organizations like the Indian Union Muslim League, for a resolution to the escalating crisis. The government’s commitment to finding a permanent solution while upholding secular values and addressing the concerns of all residents is expected to be a key focus of the upcoming meeting.
First Piper 