Uttarakhand, a state in India ruled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party, has introduced a bill on personal laws that will be applicable to all religions. This bill includes provisions such as banning polygamy and providing equal inheritance rights to both sons and daughters. The proposed bill is likely to serve as a model for other states governed by Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The bill also aims to raise the legal marriage age for girls to 21, ensure equal rights for men and women in divorce and ancestral property matters, and grant full rights to adopted, illegitimate, or surrogate-born children. However, certain tribal communities have been excluded from these provisions.
The BJP, which is seeking a third consecutive term in the upcoming general elections, has been striving to establish a national common law as one of its key promises. This move has faced opposition from some Muslim leaders who view it as a threat to Islamic law and practices.
The proposed bill has sparked debate and uproar among opposition members in the state assembly, but it is anticipated to pass easily due to the BJP’s significant majority. If implemented, this bill would replace the existing personal laws and customs followed by Hindus, Muslims, Christians, and various tribal communities in India.