Following the West Bengal BJP government’s decision to introduce the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill in the state Assembly, All India Muslim Jamaat’s Maulana Shahabuddin and the Trinamool Congress have opposed the move. Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Bareilvi of All India Muslim Jamaat criticized the UCC, calling it “against the Constitution” as it requires agreement from all communities before implementation.
He pointed out that in states where the UCC has been enforced, it has been one-sided and alleged that it is aimed at targeting Muslims. The Muslim cleric emphasized that the community will continue to adhere to the Shariat law despite the UCC. Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy echoed similar sentiments, citing Nehru’s assurance to the Muslim community that the UCC would not be enforced without their acceptance.
Roy highlighted Article 44 of the Directive Principles of State Policy, stating that the state can strive to implement the UCC but criticized the sudden introduction of the bill. He accused the BJP of pushing a communal agenda and labeled the party as authoritarian. CPI-M MP Hannan Mollah criticized the RSS’s stance towards Muslims, alleging that they aim to marginalize and oppress the community in various aspects of life.
Mollah expressed concerns about the BJP’s intentions, emphasizing that the Muslim community is likely to face further challenges under the current regime. In contrast, BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal defended the UCC, calling it a commitment of the government and the NDA. He praised the forthcoming introduction of the UCC in West Bengal and commended Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari for the initiative.
