Assam’s Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that the state government is rallying in favour of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and plans to outlaw polygamy immediately. While the implementation of the UCC is a matter for Parliament to decide, the state can also adopt it with the President’s approval, stated Sarma during a program.
“The Assam government has already indicated its endorsement for the UCC,” said the chief minister, adding that the Law Commission and the Parliamentary Committee are presently reviewing the multifaceted issues the UCC comprises.
Before a verdict on the UCC is reached, Sarma mentioned that the state government intends to tackle polygamy – one of its components – by enforcing an immediate ban. A Bill proposing the ban is anticipated to be introduced in the next assembly session in September. If unable to present the Bill in September, the state government will seek to do so in the January session.
However, Sarma pointed out that if the UCC comes into effect in the meantime, the separate action to ban polygamy will become redundant as it would be incorporated into the Code.
Commenting on the Congress party’s opposition to the UCC, Sarma questioned if any Congress leader would willingly marry their daughter to a polygamist, adding that the Congress leadership does not seem to acknowledge the plight of Muslim women.
“Congress courts the votes of Muslim men and women, yet their actions favour men alone,” Sarma remarked. He encouraged Congress to align with Muslim women’s interests, even at the risk of losing some votes.