Muslim Personal Law Board announces India-wide campaign against UCC
New Delhi: The All India Muslim Personal Law Board has announced a nationwide campaign against the BJP government’s “one nation, one law” approach as implementation of the Uniform Civil Code gains ground in several states.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the Board will launch ‘Bharat Bachao, Sharia Bachao Abhiyan’ on September 17, turning its opposition to UCC into a coordinated national mobilisation.
The announcement was made at a press conference at the Press Club in New Delhi, where board members said the campaign would remain peaceful. The Board said the campaign will focus on protecting religious practices and Sharia laws. It plans to organise meetings, seminars, conferences of intellectuals and rallies in major cities. Peaceful protest marches could also be held wherever necessary to convey its position to the government.
Board office-bearers, including Syedatullah Hussaini, said the proposed uniform law was incompatible with the country’s diversity and the fundamental right to religious freedom. The announcement comes amid another contentious issue over making the singing of all six stanzas of ‘Vande Mataram’ and standing to attention while it is sung a legal requirement.
Muslim leaders have described both UCC and the Vande Mataram issue as attempts to impose decisions on the community. The Board’s decision is expected to add a new political dimension to the debate over UCC, with Hindu organisations like the Vishva Hindu Parishad likely to react strongly.
