NEW DELHI: Asaduddin Owaisi, President of the AIMIM and Member of Parliament from Hyderabad, has spoken out against the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) that the Uttarakhand government plans to implement.
He expressed concerns on X, claiming that Muslims in India are being treated as "untouchables."
He stated, "Muslims have been made untouchable in India. 15 Muslim families are being boycotted in Chamoli, Uttarakhand. Traders of Chamoli have threatened that Muslims will have to leave Chamoli by 31 December. If house owners give houses to Muslims, they will have to pay a fine of Rs 10,000."
Owaisi questioned, "Don't the Muslims of Chamoli have the right to live with equality and respect?"
Former Uttarakhand chief minister and Congress leader Harish Rawat also criticized the UCC and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. He claimed that the UCC is not substantial and is being used for political purposes.
Rawat said , "There is nothing in the UCC; it is only a promotional sequence. It has enhanced Uttarakhand CM Dhami's stature in national politics. The BJP also had to convey this to their voters."
He added that despite being in power for ten years, the BJP had not implemented UCC until now. Rawat further criticized the state government's performance on various issues, including infrastructure and women's safety.
On Friday, the UCC Rules and Implementation Committee chairman, retired IAS officer Shatrughan Singh, submitted the final report to chief minister Dhami at the state secretariat. The proposed UCC bill addresses laws related to marriage, divorce, succession, and live-in relationships. It mandates the registration of live-in relationships and imposes a complete ban on child marriage. The Code also introduces a uniform process for divorce and provides equal rights to women of all religions concerning ancestral property. The marriage age will be 18 for women and 21 for men, and marriage registration will be mandatory across all religions. Unregistered marriages will be deemed invalid, and divorce petitions cannot be filed within one year of marriage.
Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword.The TOI City Desk is an indefatigable team of journalists dedicat...
Read MoreThe TOI City Desk is an indefatigable team of journalists dedicated to bringing you the pulse of cities from across the nation, all day and all night. Our mission is to curate, report, and deliver city news that matters to readers of The Times of India. With a keen focus on urban life, governance, culture, and local issues, we provide a comprehensive view of the ever-evolving cityscapes. Our team works tirelessly to keep readers informed about the latest developments, ensuring that they are connected to the heartbeat of cities across India, right when it happens. The TOI City Desk is a trusted source for staying in touch with the local stories that shape your world.
Read Less