Title: AIMPLB and Sikhs Oppose Implementing General Civil Code, Warn Central Government
Date: [Insert Date]
New Delhi: The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) and the Sikhs have voiced their opposition to the implementation of the General Civil Code proposed by the central government. Both minority groups have raised concerns about the impact of this code on their religious freedom and personal rights.
The common civil law has been a key policy of the ruling BJP in their bid to gain political advantage in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. However, the opposition from minority and majority opposition parties has intensified. In response to a notification from the National Law Commission seeking public views on the General Civil Code, AIMPLB requested an extension of the deadline, arguing that the current period was insufficient.
Yesterday, AIMPLB executives held a sudden meeting in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh where they wrote a letter to the Central Law Commission expressing their objections to the General Civil Code. The letter criticized the attempt to interfere with the privacy, religious freedom, and personal rights of minorities, calling the notification from the Law Commission vague and superficial.
The AIMPLB highlighted that the implementation of a general civil law was neither necessary nor desirable according to the 21st Law Commission. Muslims maintain their own code of conduct based on their Holy Quran and Islamic laws, which helps preserve their identity as granted by the constitution. The letter emphasized that common civil law is unnecessary for a diverse country like India, as separate laws contribute to national security, religious harmony, and brotherhood.
Similarly, the Sikhs have strongly protested the declaration of the General Civil Code. The political party representing the Sikh community, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), held a meeting in Delhi to discuss the matter. SAD president Paramjitsingh Sarna warned the central government about the potential repercussions of implementing this code. Sarna claimed that the General Civil Code aimed to integrate minorities with the Hindu majority, thus harming religious harmony and unity in the country. He argued that Sikhism is a separate religion and should not be subjected to Hindu laws. Sarna urged the government to first implement the law among Hindus, considering the diversity of Hindu sects.
In response to the SAD’s position, the Aam Aadmi Party’s ruling Punjab chief minister, Bhagwant Mann, expressed his opposition to the General Civil Code. SAD plans to consult with other minority communities regarding this issue. When asked about the Aam Aadmi Party’s stance, SAD leaders dismissed their support as being aligned with the BJP.
The opposition from AIMPLB and the Sikhs highlights the growing concerns regarding the proposed General Civil Code. As the debate continues, stakeholders from different religious and minority communities are striving to protect their religious freedom and individual rights.