New Delhi: AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday criticised the Maharashtra government's proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC), alleging that it was aimed at targeting Muslims and imposing a "Hindu Civil Code" on non-Hindu communities. He said his party would oppose the proposed legislation in the state legislature as well as its implementation.
Addressing a press conference, Owaisi questioned the questionnaire prepared by the Devendra Fadnavis-led government to seek public opinion on the proposed UCC, claiming that its questions indicated that the state had already decided to implement the code.
"The subject of the press conference today is that the Maharashtra government has invited opinions from the public to implement UCC. The state government has also prepared a questionnaire for it. This questionnaire makes it clear that the Devendra Fadnavis government will implement the UCC," he said.
Owaisi alleged that the questionnaire contained leading questions on polygamy and extra-judicial divorce but did not address the Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) system or define what constituted a uniform civil code. He also objected to the format, saying most questions were framed to elicit yes-or-no responses.
Comparing the proposed exercise with UCC initiatives in Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Assam and Madhya Pradesh, the AIMIM chief claimed that these measures were attempts to impose a "Hindu Civil Code" on non-Hindu communities rather than introduce a uniform set of civil laws.
He further alleged that the proposed code sought to impose provisions of the Hindu Marriage Act, Hindu Succession Act and Indian Succession Act on non-Hindus, affecting their religious practices protected under fundamental rights.
Owaisi also questioned the treatment of divorce under the proposed framework, referring to the Islamic practice of khula, which allows a woman to seek divorce. He claimed that the proposed rules would impose a one-year judicially mandated separation period based on the Hindu Marriage Act.
He linked the resignation of retired Bombay High Court judge RC Chavan from the exercise to concerns over the absence of a minority community representative. Chavan had cited the lack of minority representation as a reason for stepping down, Owaisi said.
The AIMIM leader also claimed that cases of men abandoning their wives had increased following the Centre's decision to criminalise instant triple talaq, affecting Muslim women. He questioned why there was no corresponding law addressing people entering multiple relationships while already married.
Owaisi said his party had been willing to form electoral alliances with opposition parties in Maharashtra but had received no response. He also said the AIMIM was open to an alliance with the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the Assembly elections scheduled for early 2027, but alleged that the party had dismissed him as "Ravan".
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis defended his government's move to draft a UCC, saying the Constitution's Directive Principles of State Policy call on states to work towards its implementation.
Responding to criticism from Owaisi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Fadnavis maintained that the proposed code was rooted in the constitutional framework. He also alleged that the Opposition was attempting to mobilise street protests similar to those witnessed in neighbouring countries.
The exchange comes amid a political debate in Maharashtra over the proposed UCC and the state government's ongoing exercise to seek public opinion on its implementation.
(With agency inputs from ANI and PTI)