During a discussion on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) at the India Today Conclave Mumbai 2023, various perspectives were shared by BJP MP Sushil Kumar Modi, AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi, and women's rights activist Flavia Agnes.
Sushil Kumar Modi, a BJP MP from Rajya Sabha and former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister, emphasized the need for reforms in Muslim personal laws. He highlighted the importance of gender neutrality in-laws, particularly addressing issues like polygamy and 'Triple Talaq'. He questioned the requirement for a divorced woman to marry and receive 'Triple Talaq' from another man before remarrying her first husband, pointing out the bias against women.
In contrast, Asaduddin Owaisi, the AIMIM chief, defended personal laws, asserting that the second wife of a Muslim man is entitled to maintenance and a separate house to live in. He emphasized that such women have rights, including maintenance and recognition as wives. Owaisi also mentioned that only a very small percentage of Hindu and Muslim men have second wives, and he argued that these rights are provided in Muslim personal laws.
Flavia Agnes, a noted women's rights activist and lawyer, joined the discussion and stressed the importance of achieving gender justice in all laws.
Sushil Kumar Modi mentioned that the first draft of the UCC is expected soon and highlighted that when the Hindu Code Bill was introduced in 1955, Hindus strongly opposed it, despite polygamy being more prevalent among Hindus than Muslims at the time. He argued that after 75 years of independence, the time has come for reforms, emphasizing that Sharia (Muslim laws) are not linked to religion and is not divine.
As the discussion unfolded, Asaduddin Owaisi argued that the efforts by Sushil Modi, the RSS, and the BJP aimed to introduce a Hindu Code Bill with cultural exemptions. He emphasized that for him, religion means religion, not culture.
Owaisi also raised concerns about gender justice, unemployment among women, and cases of sexual violence that demand government attention.
Sushil Modi outlined five key elements that the UCC should include: setting a minimum age for marriage, simplifying marriage laws, addressing maintenance after divorce, eradicating polygamy, and making marriage registration compulsory.
Flavia Agnes shared examples from her experience, highlighting the challenges faced by second wives in cases of divorce, including the lack of maintenance and the social stigma faced by their children, who are often termed "illegitimate." She stressed the need for internal reform within all personal laws.
The UCC has been a long-debated topic and is once again in the spotlight due to the BJP-led government's strong push ahead of the upcoming general election. The UCC proposes a unified set of civil laws governing marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption for all Indian citizens, regardless of caste, religion, or sexual orientation, replacing existing religion-based personal laws.
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