'UCC unnecessary, undesirable': Islam recognized women's property rights 'long before they were formalized in Hindu laws'

By A Representative

The Minority Coordination Committee (MCC), Gujarat, has launched a statewide campaign opposing the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC) law by the Gujarat government, terming it unconstitutional and unnecessary.

Addressing the media in Ahmedabad, Mujahid Nafees, Convenor of the MCC, strongly criticized the proposed UCC. "As an Indian citizen, I firmly believe in the fundamental rights provided by our Constitution," he said. "Our religious customs and family laws are safeguarded under the Constitution, and any changes imposed upon them are unacceptable."

Nafees highlighted that Article 44 of the Constitution mentions the possibility of a common civil code for the country but questioned whether introducing different codes in individual states truly constitutes a "common" code. Citing the recent example of Uttarakhand’s UCC, he argued that it primarily imposes Hindu religious laws on other communities, undermining the secular principles of the Indian Constitution.

He also questioned the redundancy of the proposed law, pointing out that Gujarat already has the Gujarat Registration of Marriages Act, 2006, which mandates marriage registration. Similarly, laws like the Domestic Violence Act and Section 125 of the CrPC already address maintenance and related issues across all communities.

"Women in live-in relationships already have legal protection and rights under existing laws. So, what new rights is the UCC actually offering?" asked Nafees. He further emphasized that religious family laws do not necessarily discriminate against women and that Islam, for instance, has long recognized women's property rights—long before such rights were formalized in Hindu laws.

According to Nafees, implementing the UCC will not simplify legal matters but will instead complicate them further, as evidenced by Uttarakhand’s law. "The UCC violates constitutional rights under Articles 25, 26, 28, and 29, which guarantee freedom to practice one's religion," he stated.

Declaring the UCC unnecessary and undesirable, Nafees demanded the immediate withdrawal of the proposed law. He assured that the Minority Coordination Committee would continue to raise awareness across Gujarat about the negative consequences of the UCC.

As part of its campaign, the MCC has initiated a missed call drive and QR code scanning campaign to mobilize public support against the law. Citizens are urged to give a missed call on 9409185104 and scan the QR code to send mass emails to the UCC Committee.

Comments

Countrywide protest by gig workers puts spotlight on algorithmic exploitation

By A Representative A nationwide protest led largely by women gig and platform workers was held across several states on February 3, with the Gig & Platform Service Workers Union (GIPSWU) claiming the mobilisation as a success and a strong assertion of workers’ rights against what it described as widespread exploitation by digital platform companies. Demonstrations took place in Delhi, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Maharashtra and other states, covering major cities including New Delhi, Jaipur, Bengaluru and Mumbai, along with multiple districts across the country.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

CFA flags ‘welfare retreat’ in Union Budget 2026–27, alleges corporate bias

By Jag Jivan The advocacy group Centre for Financial Accountability (CFA) has sharply criticised the Union Budget 2026–27 , calling it a “budget sans kartavya” that weakens public welfare while favouring private corporations, even as inequality, climate risks and social distress deepen across the country.

From water scarcity to sustainable livelihoods: The turnaround of Salaiya Maaf

By Bharat Dogra We were sitting at a central place in Salaiya Maaf village, located in Mahoba district of Uttar Pradesh, for a group discussion when an elderly woman said in an emotional voice, “It is so good that you people came. Land on which nothing grew can now produce good crops.”

When free trade meets unequal fields: The India–US agriculture question

By Vikas Meshram The proposed trade agreement between India and the United States has triggered intense debate across the country. This agreement is not merely an attempt to expand bilateral trade; it is directly linked to Indian agriculture, the rural economy, democratic processes, and global geopolitics. Free trade agreements (FTAs) may appear attractive on the surface, but the political economy and social consequences behind them are often unequal and controversial. Once again, a fundamental question has surfaced: who will benefit from this agreement, and who will pay its price?

Paper guarantees, real hardship: How budget 2026–27 abandons rural India

By Vikas Meshram In the history of Indian democracy, the Union government’s annual budget has always carried great significance. However, the 2026–27 budget raises several alarming concerns for rural India. In particular, the vague provisions of the VBG–Ram Ji scheme and major changes to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA) have put the future of rural workers at risk. A deeper reading of the budget reveals that these changes are not merely administrative but are closely tied to political and economic priorities that will have far-reaching consequences for millions of rural households.

Penpa Tsering’s leadership and record under scrutiny amidst Tibetan exile elections

By Tseten Lhundup* Within the Tibetan exile community, Penpa Tsering is often described as having risen through grassroots engagement. Born in 1967, he comes from an ordinary Tibetan family, pursued higher education at Delhi University in India, and went on to serve as Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile from 2008 to 2016. In 2021, he was elected Sikyong of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), becoming the second democratically elected political leader of the administration after Lobsang Sangay.

'Gandhi Talks': Cinema that dares to be quiet, where music, image and silence speak

By Vikas Meshram In today’s digital age, where reels and short videos dominate attention spans, watching a silent film for over two hours feels almost like an act of resistance. Directed by Kishor Pandurang Belekar, “Gandhi Talks” is a bold cinematic experiment that turns silence into language and wordlessness into a powerful storytelling device. The film is not mere entertainment; it is an experience that pushes the viewer inward, compelling reflection on life, values, and society.

Frugal funds, fading promises: Budget 2026 exposes shrinking space for minority welfare

By Syed Ali Mujtaba* The Ministry of Minority Affairs was established in 2006 during the tenure of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, following the findings of the Sachar Committee, which documented that Muslims were among the most educationally and economically disadvantaged communities in India. The ministry was conceived as a corrective institutional response to deep structural inequalities faced by religious minorities, particularly Muslims, through focused policy interventions.

Search This Blog