Owaisi says Maharashtra is preparing a 'Hindu Civil Code' in place of UCC, targets Fadnavis government

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi has made allegations against the government of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over the exercise to bring a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Maharashtra. Speaking to the media in Mumbai on Tuesday, he said that the questionnaire the state government has prepared on the UCC suggests that preparations are under way to implement a "Hindu Civil Code" rather than a Uniform Civil Code.

Mr Owaisi said the Maharashtra government has sought suggestions and opinions from citizens towards implementing the UCC and has also formed a committee for the purpose. According to him, however, the questions in the questionnaire framed by this committee are designed to lead to a particular answer. He pointed out specifically that questions have been asked on issues such as polygamy and divorce outside court, while not a single question has been asked about the Hindu Undivided Family.

Mr Owaisi claimed that, as in Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Assam and Madhya Pradesh, the government in Maharashtra too wants to implement a Hindu Civil Code in place of a Uniform Civil Code. He also objected to the state government's UCC committee not having a single Muslim member.

He alleged that the Uniform Civil Code is being brought only to stop Muslims from living according to their religious traditions. Citing the provisions on marriage and divorce in Islam, he questioned the government's proposal. He said that what is being proposed is not a Uniform Civil Code but something resembling a Hindu marriage law.

Mr Owaisi also criticised the government over the Waqf law. He alleged that the Waqf law has been used to try to take away Muslims' mosques and land. Pointing to the differences between Hindu and Islamic provisions on inheritance of property, he claimed that Muslims are being targeted through the Uniform Civil Code.

Mr Owaisi also raised questions about Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav's visit to Ayodhya. Citing the history of the Babri Masjid case, he asked what the role of the Samajwadi Party's Muslim MPs and MLAs would be. He said the Samajwadi Party leaders themselves should answer this.

Asked about the possibility of an alliance with the Samajwadi Party, Mr Owaisi dismissed such talk. He asked in return why he is asked every time only about political equations with the Congress and the Samajwadi Party. He also said that there is a need to think about future options in politics.

Referring to the upcoming elections in Uttar Pradesh, Mr Owaisi raised the issue of Muslims' political representation. He alleged that the Muslim community is being confined to merely casting votes. According to him, every community has the right to its own political leadership, and the Muslim community too should get the chance to have a separate political leadership.

Mr Owaisi also responded to the publication of former Congress president Sonia Gandhi's book "Belonging: A Journey of Love". Expressing respect for Ms Gandhi, he spoke of his political ties with the UPA between 2004 and 2012.

He made it clear that he had opposed the move when the UPA government repealed the POTA law and brought in the UAPA. According to Mr Owaisi, he had warned at the time that the law could be used against Muslims, Adivasis and intellectuals. Referring to the bail cases of Sharjeel Imam and Umar Khalid, he also raised the issue of the definition of terrorism in the UAPA.