NEW DELHI, May 1: Joining the issue of enacting Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the country, the Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday while supporting the move said the issue concerned more Muslim women than the Hindus.
His statement was to rebuff the stand taken by the chief of the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Asaduddin Owaisi who on Saturday had opposed the Uniform Civil Code saying it was “not required in India” even as the chief ministers of several BJP-ruled states have expressed willingness to implement it.
With the debate over the UCC back in the limelight, Sarma asserting that it was an issue for all Muslim women, said “Everybody supports UCC. No Muslim woman wants that her husband brings home three other wives… do three marriages. Who would want that? This isn’t my issue, this is an issue for Muslim mothers and women.”
Owaisi while opposing the move had castigated the BJP governments in the states of reopening the UCC debate said, “Unemployment and inflation are on the rise and you’re concerned about the Uniform Civil Code. We are against it. The Law Commission has also said the UCC is not needed in India.”
The Lok Sabha MP also pointed to a provision in the Goa civil code which allows a Hindu man to take a second wife if she has attained the age of 30 without having a son. “What will the BJP say about this? You are in power there.”
He also attacked the BJP government for not ensuring the Directive Principles enshrined in the Constitution relating to improving the level of nutrition and standard of living as well as equitable distribution of resources. “Why don’t you ban alcohol? Where the BJP is in power… just like you have put restrictions in Gujarat, why don’t you impose similar restrictions elsewhere?”
“Why is the Hindu Undivided Family tax rebate not there for Muslims, Sikhs and Christians? Also, the Constitution promises to protect the culture of Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland… will that be removed?” Owaisi questioned.
(Manas Dasgupta)
