UCC Will Harm Hindus More Than Muslims: Owaisi

HYDERABAD: AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi said that not Muslims but Hindus will suffer the most if the Uniform Civil Code is implemented in the country, as is being envisaged by the Narendra Modi-led BJP government.

Owaisi cautioned that exemptions given to Hindus will have to go if the law
is adopted.

“In Section 5 of the Hindu Marriage Act there is an exception given to Hindus. Normally, marriages cannot happen between sapindas, meaning marriages between two persons related by blood for seven generations from the father's side and five generations from the mother's side.  If UCC is implemented, how can this exception remain? If they say it’s a custom and is so exempted, then we can also say we have our own customs. This will be a loss for Hindus,” Owaisi said.

He said that Section 2(2) of the Hindu Marriage Act, which currently does not apply to tribals, will cause problems as they will lose their customary rights. He also said that marriages, legalised under Section 29 of the Act, which took place before the law was enacted will lose their legal status.

“Coming to Hindu Succession Act, 1956, Section 5 will have to go. Section 6 on devolution of coparcenary property will have to go and will be a loss to Hindus. Tax exemption for Hindu undivided families is available only for Hindus and will also go. Under this, businesses received tax rebate of more than Rs 3,000 crore as per records of the Income Tax department for 2015. Will the Hindus not lose this benefit? They will have to think about this.”

“Section 6 of Hindu Minority Guardianship Act will have to go. Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956, in which a provision regarding adoption of someone is dealt with an exception, will also have to go. It needs to be understood that all of these will be brought up and if RSS thinks otherwise, they are mistaken. They are going to cause more damage to Hindus,” he said.

Owaisi said that the BJP does not like pluralism and hence, talks of UCC. “Placing restrictions on alcohol is also part of the directive principles of state policy, along with UCC. Property will have to be distributed to people, but concentration of wealth is happening,” he said.