Hyderabad: After Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a pitch for Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the country, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) held an emergency meeting last night deciding to oppose the law and present its viewpoints on the UCC to the Law Commission. The Law Board also decided to prepare its own draft for Uniform Civil Code (UCC).
The Law Commission, on its part, has initiated a fresh consultation process to seek input from various stakeholders regarding the Uniform Civil Code. Speculation has arisen that the government plans to introduce a draft bill in the near future.
The meeting, conducted virtually, lasted for approximately three hours. The Prime Minister had addressed BJP workers in Bhopal, emphasizing the need for uniform laws in the country and rejecting the idea of multiple laws for different communities.
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Meanwhile, Muslim scholar Taslim Rehmani on Wednesday said that "the BJP should not make this an election issue." Rehmani, President of the Muslim Political Council of India told ETV Bharat, "The AIMPLB in their late-night meeting neither refused nor rejected the idea of UCC. They themselves have said that they are preparing a draft which they will submit to the Law Commission. And for that, they need at least a few months of time as this exercise needs excessive discussions."
"In 2016 also, the Law Commission in its proposal gave some time to discuss the UCC and asked for the opinions/suggestions of the people. It's a lengthy process and might take months. We are a big country with over 140 crore citizens and 3,000 entities that have their own religious, cultural, or personal rights. So, this issue should be dealt with patience and not in haste", Rehmani said.
According to Rehmani, "The BJP and others should not make this issue a political or electoral one". "What I personally feel is that UCC should not be opposed. We need to discuss this. Let the people from all over our country discuss the issue and submit their suggestions," added the Muslim Political Council of India chief.
Similarly, another Muslim scholar Ruman Hashmi said that this was not the right time to raise the issue of UCC. "The UCC issue has become a political issue," Hashmi claimed.
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"Look at the situation in the country. Manipur is burning, people are being subjected to religious discrimination as we are seeing in Uttrakhand and in other states. So I don't think this is the right time to bring UCC", he said.
Hashmi alleged that the BJP has created such a political environment that hardcore supporters of the party will only support what the BJP is saying. "The Opposition also is playing appeasement politics. One should understand that bringing in UCC would bring in several changes within the Constitution and in the customary rights as well and it will create a lot of problems," he added.
PM Modi asserted that the Constitution guarantees equal rights for all citizens, and he cited Supreme Court rulings that have advocated for the implementation of uniform laws. He further criticized parties engaged in vote-bank politics for inciting the Muslim community and stated that the BJP would not resort to appeasement politics.
A Uniform Civil Code refers to a comprehensive set of laws that apply to all individuals in the country, superseding religion-based personal laws concerning inheritance, adoption, and succession. Article 44 of the Indian Constitution calls for the State to work towards implementing a uniform civil code across the nation. However, the issue has been a subject of debate for a considerable period.
Last year, a private member's bill proposing the establishment of a panel to formulate a Uniform Civil Code was introduced in the Rajya Sabha. However, it encountered significant resistance from opposition parties. Previous attempts to introduce similar bills in the Upper House also faced obstacles and were not pursued further.
PM Modi's recent remarks have revived discussions surrounding the UCC, bringing the topic back into the spotlight. The Prime Minister posed a rhetorical question, highlighting the impracticality of having different laws within a single household and drawing a parallel to the functioning of a diverse country like India. He emphasized the constitutional principle of equal rights for all citizens.
Opposition parties reacted strongly to PM Modi's comments, accusing the BJP of attempting to undermine India's pluralism and diversity. They argued that the government should focus on addressing pressing issues such as poverty, unemployment, and rising prices rather than prioritizing contentious topics like the Uniform Civil Code.
