Madhya Pradesh recently became the fourth BJP-ruled state to pass a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) bill, with Chief Minister Mohan Yadav raising the slogan “Jo Hindu hit ki baat karega (those who talk of Hindus’ rights)”, prompting party legislators to complete “Wahi desh par raj karega (only they will rule the nation)”.
Yadav was probably the first CM to talk about the rights of the majority community while discussing UCC, while another BJP legislator, Rameshwar Sharma, branded those opposing UCC as “anti-Hindus.’’ Chants of “Jai Jai Shriram’’ were heard during the assembly proceedings as Opposition members raised slogans seeking implementation of 27 per cent reservation for OBCs.
The legislation seeks to create a common civil law governing marriage, divorce, inheritance and live-in relationships. It exempts Scheduled Tribes covered under Articles 342 and 366 (25) of the Constitution. Banning polygamy, the legislation criminalises practices like triple talaq and nikah halala.
Yadav asserted that the government will completely ban polygamy in the state. “Some people treat women as toys. “Our government will open the path to hell (jahannum) for those who make women suffer,’’ he said, adding women will get an equal share in ancestral property. “When everybody was created as equal, why should there be different laws made by men? He said the state will remove discrepancies in different laws. Quoting a survey, he said more than 90 per cent of the population had said that different laws create complications.
Opposition Questions Timing as BJP Sharpens Political Pitch
Accused of Muslim appeasement, the Congress had a tough time articulating its response to the provisions of the bill while the BJP took charge, its legislators employing dog-whistle tactics. The Congress asked why the bill was being brought in when there were more pressing concerns and demanded that it be sent to a select committee.
Alleging a political agenda aimed at creating discord among people, Congress MLA Arif Masood said when tribals were being exempted, even Muslims rights should be protected. Ruling party legislators said the bill will protect women’s rights and insisted that many Muslim women have supported it.
Known for making controversial remarks inside and outside the state assembly, Sharma said, “Ram will marry once and so will Rehman.’’ At one point, to counter the Opposition’s demand for OBC reservation, he said, “We have an OBC chief minister and an OBC prime minister. What do you have in the name of OBC?
BJP legislators quoted Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar as a champion of the UCC, adding that the bill was prepared after wide public consultations.
BJP legislators even briefly appropriated the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to support their arguments. Former assembly speaker and now an MLA, Sitasharan Sharma said Nehru firmly believed that no modern democratic nation could thrive while denying its women equal economic and legal rights.
Enacting a nationwide law to implement the UCC is a core agenda of the saffron party. Though the Modi government has actively championed UCC, the idea has not made much progress so far. Apart from Uttarakhand, Gujarat and Assam, other BJP-ruled states are at different stages of enacting the legislation. The party’s other ideological goals, the construction of the Ram Temple at Ayodhya and the abrogation of Article 370, have already been fulfilled.
