Vijayan attacks UDF govt over Waqf stand

Kozhikode: Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan accused the UDF govt of yielding to what he described as the Sangh Parivar’s divisive agenda on issues related to waqf board. After inaugurating a seminar organised by CPM’s district committee at Malappuram Town Hall on ‘Waqf Law and UDF Surrender’, he alleged that govt was taking positions that could undermine the functioning of the board.Vijayan claimed that the previous LDF govt had refused to succumb to such pressures while reconstituting the board and alleged the present govt was siding with petitioners before the high court in a move aimed at paralysing the board’s functioning. He also alleged a nexus between govt and BJP over waqf-related controversies.Terming the state govt’s move to appoint non-Muslim representatives to the board in line with Centre’s amended Waqf law as shocking, he said Kerala should emulate Tamil Nadu, which had challenged Centre’s Waqf amendment law before the Supreme Court.Vijayan accused CM V D Satheesan of trying to brand those opposing what he termed unnecessary interference in the board’s functioning as communalists. Former minister V Abdurahiman presided over the seminar, while Justice V K Mohanan delivered the keynote address.Senior CPM leader Paloli Mohammed Kutty, waqf board member Umar Faizy Mukkam, former haj committee chairman C Mohammed Faizy, KT Jaleel, TK Hamsa and CPM district secretary VP Anil spoke at the event.