Owaisi in Bhopal: UCC Targets 18 Crore Muslims, Violates Constitution

<p>AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi arrived in Bhopal on Tuesday to attend a public meeting against the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), using the occasion to mount a sharp attack on Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the Bharatiya Janata Party over their push for the proposed legislation.</p>
<p>Speaking to the media in Bhopal, Owaisi said the UCC was unconstitutional. "This is against Articles 25, 26, 14 and 29 of the Constitution, and you cannot implement such a law by abolishing freedom of religion," he said.</p>
<p>Owaisi had earlier spoken to reporters in Hyderabad on Monday, where he alleged that the BJP was not pursuing the UCC in the interest of equality. "First, you need to understand that the BJP is not pursuing the UCC for the sake of equality. They have introduced the UCC in their states and at the government level solely to target India's 18 crore Muslims; in doing so, the BJP and Amit Shah are acting in contravention of Articles 25 (Freedom of Religion), 14 (Right to Equality), 26, and 29 of the Indian Constitution. So, one must first grasp that this move by the BJP is not about equality; it is purely to target Muslims," he told reporters.</p>
<p>The AIMIM supremo also pointed to India's pluralistic identity, arguing it was central to the country's constitutional character. He further alleged that Amit Shah, the BJP and the RSS were attempting to impose Hindu law upon non-Hindus.</p>
<p>"Secondly, the very soul and spirit of this country is pluralism. Thirdly, Amit Shah, the BJP, and the RSS are attempting to impose Hindu law upon non-Hindus. Fourthly, the Law Commission, constituted by the Modi government itself, stated in its report that the UCC is neither necessary nor desirable for India," Owaisi said.</p>
<p>The UCC aims to establish a common set of personal laws for all citizens, regardless of religion, covering matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption. The issue has been a central agenda of the BJP, which has advocated for its implementation as part of its broader legal and social reform programme.</p>