Former Higher Education Minister K.T. Jaleel has accused the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and its key constituent, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), of aiding the BJP on the Waqf issue.

In a social media post, the content of which was earlier published by the CPI(M) mouthpiece Desabhimani, Mr. Jaleel described Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan as “Modi in khadi” and the IUML’s Minister for General Education and Minority Affairs N. Shamsudheen as “Amit Shah in a mundu”.

Mr. Jaleel alleged that the Muslim League had been pressing for the dissolution of the existing State Waqf Board since the UDF assumed office in May. He said the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government, led by Pinarayi Vijayan, had allowed IUML-backed chairmen of the Waqf Board to complete their terms after coming to power in 2006 and 2016, without removing them.

He claimed the League’s demand to reconstitute the Waqf Board was aimed at preventing action against those accused of encroaching on Waqf properties.

According to Mr. Jaleel, the present Waqf Board has recovered several encroached properties and is pursuing cases involving alleged financial irregularities and the unauthorised sale of Waqf land.

He further alleged that influential people had occupied Waqf properties for years by paying nominal rents, and that the Waqf Board, under its chairman K.S. Hamsa, was taking steps to reclaim them.

Referring to petitions challenging the Waqf (Amendment) Act in the Supreme Court, Mr. Jaleel said the legal validity of appointing two non-Muslim members to Waqf Boards would be examined when the matter is taken up on August 25.

He criticised the reported move to reconstitute the State Waqf Board before the court delivers its verdict, alleging that it was intended to benefit the BJP.

Mr. Jaleel also accused Mr. Satheesan and the Muslim League of misleading the public by claiming that the legal challenges to the amended Waqf law had failed and that the appointment of non-Muslim members to the Waqf Board was mandatory.