The Centre on Friday accused the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) of trying to politicise the law panel’s move to seek feedback on Uniform Civil Code (UCC), and said it should not be linked to triple talaq, where the core issue is gender justice and ending discrimination against women.
Calling for an “enlightened debate” on UCC, Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said the “real mood” of the country is to end triple talaq, and some people are trying to create confusion over the two issues.
“You (AIMPLB) join the debate. Let there be enlightened debate you put forth your point of view. Let a consensus be evolved. Why are you trying to bring in the name of Prime Minister and call him dictator?” Naidu told reporters.
The Centre’s sharp reaction came a day after the AIMPLB and various other Muslim organisations announced that they will boycott the Law Commission’s process to take views on the contentious UCC. They said the move amounts to the Modi government declaring “war” on their religious rights and that UCC will “kill” India’s pluralism.
Naidu said some people are confusing the issue of triple talaq with UCC. “The real mood of the country is that people want this triple talaq to end. People do not want any discrimination on basis of any religious faith against women. As I told you, the issues are gender justice, non-discrimination and dignity of women,” he said.
Criticising AIMPLB, Naidu said: “If you are so interested in making political comments you can as well join any political party of your choice. This is not expected from Muslim Personal Law Board and other religious leaders. You have to confine yourself to the issue and the issue is put forth for discussion by the Law Commission.”
He further said the Law Commission wants a thorough discussion on UCC and if the AIMPLB does not want to participate in the debate, it is their choice. UCC is enshrined in Article 44 of the Directive Principles of the Constitution and not brought in by the NDA government or Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he added.