Modi government

Triple talaq debate: Uniform Civil Code 'not good for nation', says Muslim Law Board

NEW DELHI: Led by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board , several Muslim organisations on Thursday opposed the law commission's questionnaire on the uniform civil code (UCC), declaring that the move amounts to thedeclaring “war“ on their religious rights.The threat of Muslim organisations to “boycott“ the law commission process also comes in the backdrop of the Supreme Court hearing a challenge to triple talaq where the Centre termed the custom unconstitutional and violative of gender equality .Accusing the government of waging “war“ against the community and contending that the UCC, if implemented, will threaten the country's pluralism, the organisations said they will start a campaign to withdraw the law commission's move.FM Arun Jaitley said the move was an “academic exercise“ and that an UCC will need Parliament's approval. Jaitley also said personal laws of all religions should be “compliant“ with individual rights granted by the Constitution, adding that Hindu and Christian personal laws had been amended in the past.“The triple talaq case is not connected to the UCC. Religious practice can apply to rituals of death, birth and marriage. But there should not be discrimination between male and female with regard to inheritance and divorce. The right to human dignity must be protected. Personal laws must be compliant with the Constitution,“ Jaitley said.Speaking to the media, AIMPLB general secretary Wali Rehmani, Jamiat-Ulema-e-Hind president Maulana Arshad Madani and representatives of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat, Milli Council, Markazi Jamiat Ahle Hadees said all the Muslim sects and women were “one“ on the issue of personal law. Rehmani said he did not agree with the law commission's claim that the step is an endeavour to address discrimination against vulnerable groups and harmonise the various cultural practices. He said an UCC will end the country's pluralism and paint all in “one colour“ and end diversity .“The questionnaire of the law commission is vague and confusing. It gives an impression that the personal laws are responsible for social inequalities and gender disparities and have nullified the rights of women,“ the AIMPLB said.“The intention of the affidavit by the central government on issues of triple talaq, polygamy , maintenance of divorcees and now the questionnaire are all aimed at clearing the way for a uniform civil code,“ the Muslim leaders said.Muslim leaders also sought to counter the government's stand on triple talaq by claiming the community has reported lesser number of divorce cases vis-à-vis other communities, especially Hindus.