Kanthapuram Sunni faction calls off protests against Waqf board reconstitution in Keralam

The Kerala Muslim Jamaat, backed by the Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliar faction of the Sunni scholars’ forum Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyathul Ulama, has called off its protests scheduled for October 22 against its lack of representation in the recently reconstituted State Waqf Board.

A short press release issued by the secretary, Kerala Muslim Jamaat, said on Tuesday (October 20, 2026) evening that this followed the assurances received by the organisation from the State government. Earlier in the day, Minister for General Education and Minority Welfare N. Samsudheen visited the headquarters of the Kanthapuram faction at Karanthur in Kozhikode, and held talks with its leaders, including Mr. Musliar.

The Minister told the media later that the concerns of the Sunni faction led by Mr. Musliar related to the lack of representation in the Waqf board would be addressed. “They will have a nominee in the board. During the reconstitution, we have had to consider the representation of various categories, which led to the present problem. The government did not deliberately try to exclude anyone,” he said. However, Mr. Samsudheen did not elaborate on how the representation would be ensured, adding that talks would be held for the purpose.

The disappointment of the Kanthapuram faction had been deepening with its leaders boycotting a meeting of the Muslim Coordination Committee, a confederation of Muslim organisations in Keralam, held in Kozhikode on October 19. The meeting was chaired by Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) State president Panakkad Syed Sadikali Shihab Thangal. After the meeting, IUML leader and Industries Minister P.K. Kunhalikutty had said that talks were being held with the leaders of the Kanthapuram faction to sort out the issue.

Leaders of the Muslim Jamaat had called for the protests on October 17, claiming that the reconstitution of the board contradicted the promises made to them by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan. They had also asserted that justice had been denied to their Sunni faction, which manages a significant portion of Waqf properties across Keralam. The plan was to hold protest demonstrations in all districts on October 22.