TMC joins Muslim clerics in opposing uniform civil code

He (PM Modi) has done nothing for the upliftment of Muslim women, be it in education, health or jobs. But now he is showing deep concern about triple talaq. IDRIS ALI, member of parliament, TMC

KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs and Muslim religious leaders took part in a protest meeting in the city to raise their voice against the Centre’s aim of ushering in the uniform civil code (UCC).

“Modi has failed to bring in acche din. There are no signs of the development promised. Now he has resorted to playing the communal card by trying to bring in the uniform civil code. He has done nothing for the upliftment of Muslim women, be it in education, health or jobs. But now he is showing deep concern about triple talaq,” TMC MP Idris Ali said.

A three-day conference culminating in a congregation of clerics and people from all over the country has been planned for November 20 to protest against the UCC.

Two other Trinamool MPs —Sultan Ahmed and Ahmed Hassan Imran — took part in Friday’s protest that paralysed business in Dharamtala for nearly an hour.

“Muslims all over the country will congregate at Park Circus on November 20 to register their protest. It will give a clear message to Narendra Modi that Muslims are not ready to accept his plans,” said Ali. He also alleged that BJP was resorting to such designs as a gimmick before the assembly polls.

“Already protests are on in various parts of the country. We will send the message to the Centre that the law commission is not above the Quran,” said cleric Noor-ur-Rehman Barkati Barkati, imam of Tipu Sultan mosque. Apart from Barkati, Cossipore mosque’s imam Maulana Syed Athar Abbas Rizvi also took part in the protest meet.

Meanwhile, the BJP defended its initiative. “The Modi government believes in gender equality as enshrined in the Constitution. Those who are protesting against the uniform civil code under the garb of right for Muslims are doing so because liberal Muslims, youths won’t listen to them,” said BJP spokesperson Siddharth Nath Singh.