The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) strongly defended the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Mumbai on Wednesday, November 11, directly challenging All India Ittehad ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi's assertions. NDA leaders countered Owaisi's claims that the UCC targets Muslims and imposes a "Hindu Civil Code," instead advocating for its constitutional mandate to foster equality and empower Muslim women.
BJP MLA Ram Kadam criticized Owaisi, stating he was "lying" about the UCC. Kadam emphasized that while Owaisi often cites the Constitution, he overlooks Article 44, which directs the state to strive for a common civil law for all citizens. "Asaduddin Owaisi is lying," Kadam told IANS. "He has forgotten the principles written by Dr Ambedkar in Article 44, that every citizen will be under the same law." Kadam dismissed the notion of the UCC as a novel concept, highlighting its origins over seven decades ago within the Constitution, penned by Baba Saheb Ambedkar. He questioned why past governments had not implemented this constitutional directive, suggesting it was not an "imposition on one's religious faith," but rather a framework for uniform law. Kadam further rejected Owaisi's linking of the UCC to the Hindu Code Bill, accusing him of misleading the public for political gain. He asserted that a full adherence to the Constitution necessitates pursuing Article 44.
Echoing this stance, Shiv Sena National Spokesperson Shaina NC presented the UCC as a vehicle for equality and the empowerment of Muslim women. "The UCC will empower Muslim women," Shaina NC declared, contrasting it with Owaisi's view of it as oppression. She invoked the vision of "One Nation, One Law" championed by Dr Ambedkar and Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray, stressing that equality should transcend divisions based on identity. "We cannot fight based on caste, creed and religion; we must fight based on equality," she quoted Thackeray, reinforcing the NDA's push for a unified legal framework.
Image: siasat.com
📰 Source: Siasat Gulf