CHENNAI: With the Government asking the law commission to look into the contentious issue of bringing in a uniform civil code, prominent Muslims on Thursday said the move was totally uncalled for.
“What we are fighting for now is gender justice. Uniform civil code is a far cry. It is enough if the Government puts its mind into existing laws that guarantee social justice like Article 46 or article 15,” said Bader Sayeed, former MLA, who is also a petitioner against the triple talaq system.
The Government’s move has rekindled the long-standing debate on the implementation of a uniform civil code.
Rajathi Salma, a Tamil poet and social activist, said she was skeptical of the Government’s latest initiative.
“This (implementation of the Uniform Civil Code) has been a long term desire for the BJP. But, this is a country with several lifestyles and cultures. Bringing a uniform civil code will only interfere in minority rights and create unnecessary disruptions,” she reasoned, expressing concerns about ulterior motives behind the move.
“How will the public trust them?” she asked.
Prince of Arcot, Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali, when asked for his views on the matter, said, "The late RSS Chief MS Golwalkar himself had said long ago that in a country as diverse as India, a uniform civil code will not bring unity.”
“What would become of Article 371 that protects the customary laws of the Nagas and the Mizos? What would become of the Income tax benefits enjoyed by the Hindu undivided family? Not only Muslims, no religion will accept the uniform code,” he added and questioned the need to rake up the issue when everything was smooth as it is. In his view, this was simply a question of interfering in one’s religious practices when India, a secular country should remain so as enshrined in the constitution.
“Religion and politics cannot go together. All Indians are peace loving people- at the time of calamities, we help each other, at the time of sorrow, we visit each other. Why invite trouble? This will only spark raging debates when there are a lot of other important issues in the country to be taken care of,” he said.