Muslim groups in the Indian state of Kerala have come together to oppose the implementation of a Uniform Civil Code (UCC), stating that it will have negative consequences for Muslims and other communities. Led by the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), representatives from various Muslim organizations attended a meeting where they decided to fight against the UCC both legally and politically.
The IUML state president, Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal, emphasized that the UCC is not just a Muslim issue but concerns people of all religions. He vowed to unite all communities to oppose the UCC through legal and political means. IUML leader and Member of Legislative Assembly PK Kunhalikutty accused the UCC of being a tool used to divide people along religious lines.
Apart from the IUML, the meeting was attended by two factions of the Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama, factions of the Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Muslim Education Society, and the Muslim Service Society.
In a separate development, the Congress party in Kerala is holding a meeting to discuss the UCC. The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee meeting, attended by MLAs, MPs, district presidents, and top office-bearers, is expected to address the issue.
Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, VD Satheesan, condemned the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for attempting to use the UCC to divide people. Satheesan argued that the Law Commission appointed by the central government has already clarified that there is no need for a UCC at present.
Kerala’s ruling party, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI(M), also criticized the Prime Minister’s endorsement of the UCC. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan tweeted that debates around the UCC are an attempt by the Sangh Parivar (a Hindu nationalist organization) to deepen communal divisions. He urged people to oppose any efforts that undermine India’s pluralism and emphasized the importance of democratic discussions within communities to bring about reforms.
The BJP’s Kerala president, K Surendran, responded to the Chief Minister’s remarks, accusing the CPI(M) of becoming a Muslim party and alleging that Vijayan’s goal is to polarize Muslims. Surendran stated that Muslim parents would not accept practices like triple talaq or gender discrimination in property rights.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee for Law and Justice also held a meeting on Monday to discuss the issue of the UCC.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent endorsement of the UCC has reignited the debate surrounding it. PM Modi stated that the country cannot function with two sets of laws and that the UCC forms part of India’s Constitution. He criticized the opposition for playing vote bank politics on the issue.
Evidently, the UCC remains a contentious topic in Kerala, with Muslim groups and political parties expressing concerns about its implementation. The debate over the UCC highlights the complex and diverse nature of Indian society, calling for balanced discussions and consideration of different perspectives to address the country’s legal and cultural challenges.
