Assam CM Accuses Congress of Hypocrisy Over Uniform Civil Code

Assam's Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, has accused the Congress party of deviating from its earlier proponent stance on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), which dates back to 1925. According to Sarma, the opposition party no longer represents secularism, instead aligning itself with a specific community.

The debate arose during a discussion on the 'Uniform Civil Code, Assam, 2026 Bill', where Sarma emphasized that the proposed UCC is rooted in Article 44 of the Indian Constitution, rather than being influenced by BJP or RSS ideologies as claimed by Congress. He noted Congress's diverse assembly composition, claiming it reflects narrow representation, particularly among Assam's Muslims.

He further cited Goa's historical precedent of maintaining a common civil code post its integration into India in 1961. Sarma expressed that Assam aims to join states like Uttarakhand and Gujarat by implementing a UCC, describing it as a step towards gender justice while asserting that tribal communities with existing customary laws will be excluded from the code's scope.

The proposed UCC legislation in Assam seeks to standardize laws on personal matters, mandating registration of live-in relationships and banning polygamy, though exceptions apply to the state's Scheduled Tribes.

(With inputs from agencies.)