Gujarat’s minority collective launches campaign opposing proposed UCC
The Minority Coordination Committee (MCC) in Gujarat has launched a public campaign opposing the state government’s proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC), labeling it unconstitutional and an infringement on religious freedoms.
The campaign, designed to gather widespread support, is being promoted through a missed call service and QR code scanning, allowing people across Gujarat to express their rejection of the law.
Speaking to Maktoob, Mujahid Nafees, a key spokesperson for the MCC, said that the campaign is being run across Gujarat in full force.
Recently, speaking at a press conference, Nafees said that as an Indian citizen, he firmly believes in the fundamental rights provided by the Constitution of India, wherein the rights established by religion and customs have been clearly protected.
“I strongly oppose any attempt to alter these, as I am fully satisfied with the family laws established by my religion and customs,” Nafees said.
Nafees also raised concerns about the practical implications of the proposed law in Gujarat, questioning its necessity given the existence of laws such as the Gujarat Registration of Marriages Act, 2006, which already mandates marriage registration.
He further criticized the redundancy of adding another layer of bureaucracy for divorce registrations and maintenance claims when existing laws, including the Domestic Violence Act and CrPC Section 125, already address these issues.
He also highlighted that the UCC does not introduce any new provisions in areas such as live-in relationships or maintenance rights for women, which are already protected under existing laws. Nafees criticized the UCC for introducing unnecessary processes without addressing the actual needs of the people.
Regarding the rights of women, Nafees pointed out that Islamic law has long granted women property rights, unlike Hindu law, where women’s property rights were introduced much later. He argued that the UCC would only create more legal disputes, particularly in the context of property rights, without offering any meaningful solutions.
“The UCC violates the constitutional rights given to people under Articles 25, 26, 28, and 29, which safeguard the freedom to practice one’s religion,” Nafees pointed out. He stated that instead of reducing legal disputes, the proposed UCC would make processes more complicated and inefficient, as evidenced by the issues faced in Uttarakhand.
The Minority Coordination Committee declared its strong opposition to the UCC law, calling for its immediate cancellation. The committee is reaching out to millions of people across Gujarat to inform them of the potential harms of this law, urging them to join the campaign and stand against the proposed legislation.
