Kerala's Munambam Land Dispute: Satheesan Vows Protection Amid Political Debate

Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan pledges to safeguard Munambam residents' rights, amidst controversy over land registration by the Waqf Board established by the former Left government. The dispute, involving 404 acres in Ernakulam, has fueled a political clash concerning religious and community divisions.

Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Tuesday assured protection and full ownership rights for Munambam residents, while alleging that the previous Left government's politically-appointed Waqf Board had complicated the land dispute.

Satheesan said the government was examining legal steps to address the Waqf Board's registration of the disputed land in 'UMEED' portal.

He alleged that the disputed land was registered on the Centre's UMEED portal against legal provisions and claimed the registration should have been carried out by the ''mutawalli'', the caretaker or administrator of a waqf.

The CM also claimed that the Congress-led UDF had effectively intervened when the BJP attempted to use the issue to create divisions between two religious communities in the past.

His remarks came amid a political row in Kerala after the Kerala State Waqf Board registered the disputed land in Munambam, where most residents belong to the Christian community, on the UMEED portal.

Meanwhile, Kerala State Waqf Board Chairman K S Hamza clarified that the registration on the portal was only part of a technical and legal procedure and would not determine the final ownership of the property.