Opposition parties in Assam have strongly opposed the newly-formed BJP-led government's decision to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state. The Congress, Raijor Dal, and All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) have condemned the move, which is expected to be taken up during the first assembly session later this month. They have questioned the government's motives behind introducing the UCC immediately after securing a decisive electoral mandate.
AIUDF President Condemns UCC
AIUDF president Badruddin Ajmal criticized the BJP's approach, stating, "BJP's work is to instigate infighting between Mandir and Masjid. They will bring UCC, we will oppose. They will bring Mandir-Masjid, Hindu-Muslim talks, we will protest." Ajmal reminded Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma that winning 102 seats in a 126-member assembly was a significant mandate and urged the government to focus on infrastructure, education, and development. "The government should do justice to all religions. We do not want infightings or UCC," Ajmal, the newly elected MLA from Binnakandi, added. He further suggested that Himanta should first understand the meaning of UCC by looking it up in the dictionary, arguing that excluding some groups from the scope of UCC while targeting others cannot be described as uniform.
Cabinet Approves UCC Implementation
In its first meeting on Wednesday, the new Assam cabinet approved the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code in the state. However, it was also decided that tribal populations, both in the hills and plains, would remain outside its scope. This decision has sparked concerns among opposition parties about the potential marginalization of certain communities.
Congress Voices Concerns
Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Gaurav Gogoi reacted to the cabinet's decision, alleging that the BJP-led government is not trying to fulfill the vision of the Constitution's framers but rather seeking to divide society. "Through UCC, they want to dominate over one section of citizens. BJP, in various states, is trying to create first-class and second-class citizens through UCC," he claimed. Gogoi also expressed concern that tribal communities might eventually lose their special status, and over time, their freedom could be eroded if the BJP brings their local traditions and customs under political control. He stated that if the BJP truly seeks uniformity, then citizens should be guaranteed equal rights, equal status, and equal treatment under the law.
Raijor Dal Criticizes Move
Raijor Dal president Akhil Gogoi criticized the decision, saying, "In the first cabinet, a decision had to be made to protect the people of Assam from the country's economic crisis. Instead, a decision was taken to introduce UCC to teach Muslims a lesson and to attack individual freedom!" In a social media post, he alleged that Chief Minister Sarma decided to introduce the bill in the first assembly session of his second term to impose the ideologies of Delhi and Nagpur on Assam, promoting religious intolerance and conservatism over modern values.
