This is an archive article published on February 6, 2023

Don’t pursue Uniform Civil Code, will affect nation’s unity: AIMPLB to govt

The meeting was attended by AIMPLB president Maulana Rabey Hasani Nadvi, general secretary Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani and other members of the board.

4 min readLucknowFeb 6, 2023 03:00 AM IST First published on: Feb 6, 2023 at 01:28 AM IST

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) on Sunday said that implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) will be against “the spirit of the Constitution” and “affect the unity and harmony” of the country.

After a meeting of its executive committee in Lucknow, the AIMPLB in a statement urged the BJP government at the Centre to not pursue the agenda of the Uniform Civil Code, saying: “Implementing a Uniform Civil Code will deprive citizens of the privileges provided to them by personal laws and that is against the spirit of the Constitution. Such a code is neither relevant nor beneficial for a multi-religious, multi-cultural and multi-lingual country like India. If taking advantage of its majority in Parliament, the ruling (BJP) government passes and puts into effect the Uniform Civil Code, it will affect the unity and harmony that bind the nation. It will hinder the country’s progress and will not bear any fruitful results either.”

The meeting was attended by AIMPLB president Maulana Rabey Hasani Nadvi, general secretary Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani, members Asaduddin Owaisi, Qasim Rasool Ilyas, Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahli, Dr Monisa Bushra and others.

Last November, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that his party (BJP) was committed to implementing Uniform Civil Code in the country but only after following all democratic processes and discussions on it.

Amid the courtroom battle on the Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah Masjid dispute in Mathura and Kashi Vishwanath-Gyanvapi issue in Varanasi, the AIMPLB said the Places of Worship Act, 1991, “must be properly implemented and that it is the duty” of the government to do so.

“It (the Act) is in the national interest. Otherwise, it could lead to endless differences among various religious groups. The government must not submit to the separatist powers and should responsibly safeguard the legal interests of all,” said the Board.

The AIMPLB also slammed the government’s action of demolishing the properties of people named in FIRs and urged the judiciary to take serious note of it.

“…Unfortunately lawlessness is prevailing in the country and an attempt is to implicate the accused even before the prosecution and litigation take their course… Houses built for decades are getting razed. Those holding peaceful demonstrations are framed under the most stringent of laws and put behind bars indefinitely,” said the Board.

“…the tenets of equality, justice, and freedom enshrined in the Constitution are to be safeguarded responsibly by the government and judiciary… Hence, it is an appeal to the judiciary to take serious note of injustice being meted out to the weaker sections of society and the minorities… Judiciary is the last hope for the public,” the Board said.

The Board also appealed to the “highest authorities” to put in place stringent measures to

control hatred being spread across the country”.

“For centuries, India has thrived on the strength of integrity among its population… Discord being created is opposed to the path of unity and inclusiveness that was followed by our freedom fighters and makers of the Constitution,” the Board said.

On the issue of religious conversion, the Board said that “religion and faith are matters of belief and conscience”.

“Decision to follow a religion is natural. Constitution honours this as a fundamental right and so everyone has the freedom to follow a religion of their choice. It is unfair to use force or money to influence an individual in this matter. However, in many states, laws have been made to deprive citizens of this very basic right. This is totally unacceptable. Yet, those who willingly choose to switch from one religion to another are free to do so,” the Board said.

It also said that it was “unlawful for any citizen or government to grab Waqf properties”.

“The AIMPLB strongly opposes statements by some public representatives instigating action to deprive Muslims of Their Waqf properties and appeals to the government to be beware of such actions,” said the Board and advised Muslims to use Waqf properties for educational purposes.