Not for equality, only to target Muslims: Owaisi on Amit Shah's UCC push

AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday strongly objected to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's statement that BJP-led NDA governments in 21 states would introduce a Uniform Civil Code before 2029, alleging that the move was aimed at Muslims. He said the BJP and Shah were trying to implement the UCC in violation of Articles 25 and 14 of the Constitution, which guarantee freedom of religion and the right to equality.

Owaisi also criticised the Centre on a range of issues, including the National Register of Citizens, the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, the full rendition of Vande Mataram, India-China ties, India playing sports against Pakistan, food served at the BRICS summit, and the closure of 252 madrassas in West Bengal. In his remarks, he also questioned the BJP's stand on pluralism and the Constitution.

Speaking to reporters in Hyderabad, Owaisi said, "BJP is not doing this (implementation of UCC) for equality. This is only to target Muslims."

He said the "soul" of the country was its pluralism and claimed that a Uniform Civil Code would amount to imposing Hindu law on non-Hindus. He also said the Law Commission appointed by the NDA government had concluded that a UCC was neither necessary nor desirable.

Citing the different provisions of the UCC in Goa, he asked whether Shah and the BJP would implement the same UCC followed in BJP-ruled states such as Uttarakhand in the western state. He also asked whether NDA leaders such as N Chandrababu Naidu, Nitish Kumar and Chirag Paswan would support the provisions of the UCC.

On the improvement in India-China relations during the BRICS summit in Delhi, Owaisi asked whether better bilateral ties meant India had lost its patrolling rights along the India-China border. He also alleged that China had supplied weapons to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. "Why does this government fear Trump (US President Donald Trump) and China so much?" he said.

Owaisi alleged that Shah's "misplaced arrogance" and his "chronology" had led to the anti-CAA/NRC protests in 2019, adding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi later had to clarify that no NRC would be implemented. Calling the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls a "nasty joke", he said ordinary people were being asked to stand in queues with documents.

"The government provides ration to 80 crore people. You are telling them to stand in queue. Who are you to conduct SIR like this?" he said. He further alleged that the NRC would again force people to stand in queues and that the BJP-led government's intention was to carry out the NRC after the SIR.

Taking a dig at Shah, Owaisi said those who could not stop the alleged theft at the Ram temple in Ayodhya were speaking about the UCC and NRC. On the row over the full rendition of Vande Mataram, he recalled freedom fighters such as Turrebaz Khan and Maulvi Allauddin of Hyderabad. "Who gave the slogan of Quit India? Was it given by a Sanghi (a term for RSS volunteers)?" he asked. He also questioned whether making the full rendition of Vande Mataram mandatory was contrary to the freedom of religion guaranteed by the Constitution.

On India playing sports against Pakistan, Owaisi alleged that the government was allowing the BCCI to make money through television rights. He said the "heavens would not fall" if India did not play a cricket match against Pakistan.

Speaking on the BRICS summit, Owaisi said the 2025 BRICS Declaration had called for interoperability between members' payment systems to improve transaction efficiency. He asked why the government had not taken steps to link the BRICS digital currency, which he said had been discussed by an RBI deputy governor. Referring to reports that only vegetarian dishes were served at the summit, he alleged that while the UCC sought to impose the majority's laws on minorities, the ruling dispensation was also trying to impose its preferences in matters of food. He said the positive development during the BRICS summit was the talks between Iran and the UAE.

On the West Bengal government's order to close 252 madrassas over lack of approvals, Owaisi alleged that it reflected hatred towards Islam and violated Article 30 of the Constitution, which deals with the right of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions.

Shah had said on Sunday in Mumbai that BJP-led NDA governments in 21 states would introduce the UCC before 2029. "Triple talaq has been abolished, giving Muslim women equal rights. We have introduced the Uniform Civil Code in several states, and I am confident that in the 21 BJP-NDA-ruled states, we will introduce the UCC before 2029," he said.

Asked whether the 1951 baseline would be used for implementing the NRC in Manipur, Shah said the Centre was in talks with its allies and political parties in the state. "We are discussing these issues with our allies and also with the political parties of Manipur. Whatever decision is taken, we will inform you," he said.

In sum, Owaisi used his remarks to oppose Shah's push for the UCC and to raise questions on the NRC, electoral roll revision, Vande Mataram, India-Pakistan sports ties, BRICS-related issues and the closure of madrassas, while Shah maintained that NDA governments would bring in the UCC before 2029 and said discussions on the NRC in Manipur were continuing.