Who is the Kerala Police modelling itself on?

The controversial law, passed by the central government controlled by the Sangh Parivar, has come into force with the aim of encroaching on the waqf properties across the country, which were offered to religious, social, educational, and charitable activities, solely seeking the pleasure of God. The ruling party passed the bill in both houses of Parliament in a hurry, after procedures that did not live up to the democratic spirit or the decency of taking the opinion of the Opposition into consideration. The debate on the Waqf Bill witnessed a historic achievement in Parliament - the opposition INDIA Bloc, which stood virtually disbanded after the 2024 general elections stood united against the communal fascist policies of the BJP. Each and every opposition party representative, speaking with merit and precision, in the spirit of secularism and democracy, proved that they have the strength to be fighters in every sense of the word against the Modi dispensation, which is getting set to face elections with a campaign of communal hatred and is implementing anti-people policies with increasing intensity during its rule. The people's representatives sent a clear message to the nation that although the waqf property belongs to the Muslim community, when it is encroached upon, it is not only that community that is hurt, but the entire country as well. The way forward is to continue the fight in court and on the streets against the law that challenges the constitutional values ​​of India and is therefore against the interests of the country. Various parties, including the Muslim League, Samastha Kerala Jamiatul Ulama, and KNM Markaz-ud-Dawa, have already approached the Supreme Court. Muslim mass movements, including the All India Muslim Personal Law Board and the Jamiatul Ulama-e-Hind, are about to begin the next phase of awareness and protest programs.

Also read: Munambam is local issue, Waqf Bill affects all Muslims: Christians question CBCI support

The resistance against this move in Kerala, which has always resisted the machinations of the communal fascist party, is also of special importance. Kerala's is an assembly that unanimously passed a resolution against the amendment to the Waqf Act. The United Left Democratic Front MPs from Kerala expressed their position very strongly in the Waqf debate. It is natural that the Muslim community and organisations, which have become more vigilant against encroachments on Waqf land in the context of the new bill and law, are also formulating protest programs.

Also read: Pleas challenging Waqf Act to be heard by SC on April 15

It is in this context that the stand taken by the Kerala Police against the airport blockade protest announced by the Solidarity Youth Movement and the SIO on Wednesday against the Waqf Amendment Act should be discussed. The police had sent a warning letter to the office bearers of the bus operators' organisation that they would seize the vehicles carrying activists for the blockade program and take legal action against the owners. Immediately thereafter, leftist cyber handles also jumped in, justifying the police stance and pointing out the possibility of law and order problems. With the recent example of repeatedly insulting the ASHA workers' strike in the background, one can ignore those who justify them given to feasting themselves while in power and is used to holding protests when in opposition, and they used to block roads and trains, blockade government offices, and assault people. However, it needs to be clarified whether the Kerala Police is sending such threats to implement the central government's desire to break up protests against the Waqf Act with the knowledge of the state Home Department.

Also read: After protest against Waqf Act turns violent, prohibitory orders imposed in Bengal

The policies adopted by the Kerala Police, controlled by Pinarayi Vijayan, on anti-central government protests and issues related to Muslims, have caused bewilderment in the past. In the assurance of the police being on their side, there are those who constantly indulge in hate speech and social media campaigns against Muslims. The Kerala Assembly has passed a resolution against the Citizenship Amendment Act, as it did against the Waqf Act. The Left Front led by the Chief Minister has come on to public platforms and given a press advertisement to garner votes with the declaration that the Citizenship Amendment Act will not be implemented in the state. However, hundreds of people who demonstrated peacefully against the same act, without harming anyone even by raising slogans, are still embroiled in cases filed by the Kerala Police. The same police also registered a case against the students by deliberately changing the wording in their slogan ‘Down Down Hindutva’ to ‘Hindustan’. The policemen of the regime of Pinarayi Vijayan, who wore keffiyeh shawls and shout slogans of solidarity with the Palestinians during the party congress, detained youths at the station on the day of the ISL football match for wearing keffiyehs and filed a case against students who put up posters calling for a boycott of Israeli products. If the Kerala police and government are taking the UP police and administration as a model on this issue, which demands personal bond and bail money from public workers and religious leaders for speaking against the Waqf Act and wearing protest badges, then the Left government should be ready to openly say so.

Also read: The Waqf Amendment is not reform - it’s a roadmap to dispossession