Before the elections in Uttarakhand, there is a fierce debate taking place about the controversial Bul Kamand Soord Code enacted by the Modi government’s party. According to the report of Asian News International, this has sparked controversy as it is feared that the Hindu nationalist ruling party is increasing its control over the state, while Muslim leaders have expressed concern.
The approval of the Uniform Code (UCC) law in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand has led to a heated debate about it, just weeks before the national elections are set to begin.
According to reports, supporters of the law argue that it will ensure equal rights for Muslim women and that sons and daughters will have an equal share in inheritance, and that divorce cases will have to be referred to the courts. It is also mandatory to register relationships with people of the opposite sex, otherwise they could face a three-month jail term or a fine.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had said before the approval of the bill that the law will end the wrong practices and ensure equal rights for everyone. It should be noted that the Bharatiya Janata Party, in power in India, had been pursuing changes in the personal laws of religious communities for a long time, but it was being criticized and, in particular, Muslims’ anger was being expressed.
The change in the personal law in Uttarakhand has come at a time when just a few weeks ago, Narendra Modi inaugurated a temple being built in place of the Babri Masjid martyred by Hindu extremists in Ayodhya and critics of this step are accusing the BJP of preparing for the April elections. It is to implement the law throughout the country.
Critics believe that this step of the BJP is to reassure its supporters that after the success in the elections in April, the said law will be implemented throughout the country.
On the other hand, Muslim leaders said that the law approved in Uttarakhand is contrary to Islamic laws regarding divorce, marriage, and inheritance. The leader of the Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind, Arshad Madani, had said that we cannot accept any law against Sharia, and similarly, Asma Zehra, the head of the All India Muslim Women’s Association, said that we want our marriage system to be in accordance with the Qur’an.
They said that the issue of child marriage can be solved through social reforms and such laws cannot be imposed on us without consulting us.