Owaisi slams Uttarakhand’s ‘cut‑and‑paste’ Uniform Civil Code, calls it a community‑targeted move

Standing before a horde of reporters in Dehradun, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi didn’t mince words. He labeled the Uttarakhand Uniform Civil Code (UCC) a “cut‑and‑paste” piece of legislation, essentially a re‑hash of the Hindu Marriage, Succession and Divorce Acts, with a few cosmetic tweaks thrown in.

“Why pretend it’s something new?” Owaisi asked, eyebrows raised. “The code simply lifts sections from existing Hindu laws, preserves old customs and, oddly enough, carves out an exemption for tribal groups. That’s hardly a fresh, inclusive framework.”

He went on to argue that the whole exercise flouts the spirit of India’s Constitution. “If India truly embraces pluralism and diversity, how can a state impose one community’s marriage, divorce and inheritance rules on everyone else?” he challenged, hinting that the move could be struck down on constitutional grounds.

According to Owaisi, the push for this UCC reveals a deeper problem: the ruling BJP’s alleged indifference to the constitutional guarantees of religious freedom and fraternity enshrined in the Preamble. “This isn’t about modernising law; it’s about sidelining minorities under the guise of uniformity,” he said.

For context, the Uttarakhand government rolled out the Uniform Civil Code (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026 in January, citing the need for procedural, administrative and penal refinements. The ordinance, promulgated by Governor Lt. Gen. Gurmit Singh (Retd.) under Article 213, aimed to streamline implementation, boost women’s empowerment, protect children’s rights and simplify civil procedures.

Yet critics like Owaisi argue that the so‑called “reforms” merely mask a selective agenda. By cherry‑picking provisions from Hindu personal laws while leaving other communities untouched, the state, in his view, undermines the very notion of a truly uniform code.

In a separate note, Owaisi touched upon his party’s upcoming battle in Rajasthan’s urban local body elections. Arriving at Jaipur International Airport, he emphasized that AIMIM’s focus remains on grassroots work, not just electoral rhetoric. “Elections are about the work we do on the ground. Whether we win or lose, we must keep serving the people,” he said, hinting that the upcoming polls could be a litmus test for the BJP’s local‑level grip.

The controversy surrounding Uttarakhand’s UCC is likely to intensify as civil‑rights groups, legal experts and political opponents weigh in. Whether the ordinance stands the test of judicial scrutiny remains to be seen, but Owaisi’s blunt critique has already sparked a wider debate about how India balances uniformity with its celebrated diversity.