Modi govt trying to impose UCC: TMC

We will oppose any such move of the Centre and will stop anybody who will try to amend the Quran, says TMC

Kolkata, Oct 21: Joined by two Trinamool Congress MPs, Shahi Imam of the Tipu Sultan Mosque here, Syed Mohammad Nurur Rahman Barkati today charged the Narendra Modi government with trying to "polarise the nation" by "imposing" the Uniform Civil Code.

Alleging that the Modi government was trying to "impose" UCC on the Muslims, the Imam called all the Muslims, as well as the Hindus, the Christians, the Dalits and other communities to come together to oppose the move.

He was addressing a protest demonstration in front of the Tipu Sultan Mosque at busy Dharamtala area in which two TMC MPs-- Sultan Ahmed and Idris Ali-- were present. Sultan Ahmed told reporters, "I have come to attend the programme to oppose UCC."

"There cannot be any uniform civil code in the country. It will disturb the unity of the country. Muslims in the country have been targeted and the Centre is trying to impose UCC on the Muslims. We have inherited the law and we will not allow any interference," Sultan Ahmed said.

Asked whether it is his party's view, the MP said, "This is not the TMC office. You ask our party's national spokesperson about it." Idris Ali, another TMC MP said that "nobody will be allowed to amend the Quran".

[BJP may keep Uniform Civil Code issue alive till 2019: CPI]

"We will oppose any such move of the Centre and will stop anybody who will try to amend the Quran," Ali said.

The Shahi Imam also called for a nationwide road blockade protesting the Centre's move. A rally at the Park Circus Maidan would also be held, he said.

For the first time in India's constitutional history, the Centre on October 7 opposed in the Supreme Court the practice of triple talaq, 'nikah halala' and polygamy among Muslims and favoured a relook on the grounds of gender equality and secularism.

The Ministry of Law and Justice, in its affidavit, referred to constitutional principles like gender equality, secularism, international covenants, religious practices and marital law prevalent in various Islamic countries to drive home the point that the practice of triple talaq and polygamy needed to be adjudicated upon afresh by the apex court.

PTI