T’puram: CM V D Satheesan defended state govt’s stand on the inclusion of non-Muslim members in state waqf board, saying the move was in accordance with the Waqf Act and had already been accepted by the previous LDF govt. He accused opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan of trying to spread communal propaganda and turn the Muslim community against the govt over the issue.Satheesan said Centre amended the Act in 2025 despite opposition from all opposition parties and the present waqf board was constituted after the amended law came into force. The board’s constitution order specified the inclusion of two non-Muslim representatives, who were to be selected from among bar council’s nominees and persons of public eminence. The previous LDF regime had also said the members would be appointed at a later stage, he said.Satheesan said four petitions were subsequently filed in the high court alleging that non-Muslim members had not been appointed to the board, that communities such as Shias, Bohras, Aga Khan followers and economically-weaker sections among Muslims were not adequately represented and that some of the existing members lacked the required qualifications.Satheesan said state govt had informed HC that the petitions deserved to be dismissed after examining the issues. He said the board, which later approached SC, reiterated that non-Muslim members could be appointed under Section 14 of the Act and that the appointments could be made from the Bar Council and persons of public eminence, in line with the earlier commitment made by LDF govt.Despite this, Vijayan launched a campaign to spread communalism and alienate Muslim community from UDF govt. It was his govt that had agreed to appoint two non-Muslim members to the board. Neither CPM nor Vijayan can politically corner this govt through communal propaganda, said Satheesan.
