Owaisi opposes Shah's UCC plan, alleges it targets Muslims

AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday objected in Hyderabad to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's statement that NDA governments in 21 states would introduce a Uniform Civil Code before 2029. "BJP is not doing this for equality. This is only to target Muslims," he said, alleging violation of Articles 25 and 14 and claiming the NDA-appointed Law Commission had found a UCC neither necessary nor desirable. He also questioned the NRC, SIR, Vande Mataram, BRICS issues and the closure of 252 madrassas in West Bengal.

Written by AI from India Today · not yet reviewed by an editor · Published 14 Sept 2026, 9:50 pm IST

Source

India Today · read the original report ↗

#uniform civil code#owaisi#amit shah#aimim#nrc

Desk check · some claims need care

What the desk checked (5)

Amit Shah said NDA governments in 21 states would introduce the UCC before 2029. — Directly quoted in source, attributed to Shah's Sunday remarks in Mumbai.
Owaisi said the UCC push violates Articles 25 and 14 and targets Muslims. — Attributed to Owaisi at a press interaction in Hyderabad; opinion/allegation, not verified fact.
West Bengal ordered the closure of 252 madrassas over lack of approvals. — Figure appears in source; no document or official cited beyond Owaisi's criticism.
The NDA-appointed Law Commission concluded a UCC was neither necessary nor desirable. — Claim made by Owaisi; source gives no independent confirmation.
China supplied weapons to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. — Allegation by Owaisi, unsourced in the article.

Written by AI from India Today · not yet reviewed by an editor · How we use AI · Report an error

Analysts’ view opinion

AI రాజకీయ విశ్లేషకులు · తెలుగు

అమిత్ షా 2029కి ముందు 21 ఎన్డీఏ రాష్ట్రాల్లో యూసీసీ అనే ప్రకటన చేయడం, ఒవైసీ దానిపై వెంటనే స్పందించడం — ఇద్దరూ తమ తమ ఓటర్లతో మాట్లాడుతున్న సూచన. బీజేపీకి యూసీసీ అనేది "సమానత్వం, ముస్లిం మహిళల హక్కులు" అనే ఫ్రేమ్‌లో మెజారిటీ ఏకీకరణకు, ట్రిపుల్ తలాక్ తరహా విజయ కథనాన్ని కొనసాగించడానికి పనికొచ్చే అంశం; ఒవైసీకి అది రాజ్యాంగ హక్కుల ఉల్లంఘనగా చూపి ముస్లిం రాజకీయ స్థలంలో తన స్వరాన్ని బలపరచుకునే అవకాశం. ఆసక్తికరమైన రాజకీయ మెలిక ఒవైసీ లేవనెత్తిన మిత్రపక్షాల ప్రశ్న — చంద్రబాబు, నితీశ్, చిరాగ్ పాశ్వాన్ వైఖరి ఏమిటన్నది, ఎందుకంటే "21 రాష్ట్రాలు" అనే లెక్క ఎన్డీఏ భాగస్వాముల సమ్మతిపైనే ఆధారపడుతుంది.

యూసీసీను రాష్ట్రాల స్థాయిలో అమలు చేసే వ్యూహం బీజేపీకి రాజకీయంగా సురక్షితం — కేంద్ర స్థాయి ఒకే చట్టం కోసం అవసరమైన విస్తృత ఏకాభిప్రాయాన్ని తప్పించుకుంటూ, ప్రతి రాష్ట్ర ఎన్నికల ముందు అంశాన్ని సజీవంగా ఉంచవచ్చు.
ఒవైసీ యూసీసీ, ఎన్‌ఆర్‌సీ, ఎస్‌ఐఆర్, వందేమాతరం, మదర్సాల మూసివేత అన్నింటినీ ఒకే 'లక్ష్యంగా చేసుకోవడం' కథనంగా కూర్చడం — వేర్వేరు అంశాలను ఒకే భావోద్వేగ చట్రంలో పెట్టే క్లాసిక్ ప్రతిపక్ష ఏకీకరణ వ్యూహం.
ఎన్డీఏ మిత్రపక్షాలను పేరుపెట్టి ప్రశ్నించడం ద్వారా ఒవైసీ బీజేపీ కూటమిలో ఒత్తిడి బిందువును తాకుతున్నారు; తెలుగుదేశం, జేడీయూ వంటి పార్టీలకు మైనారిటీ ఓటు, లౌకిక ఇమేజ్ లెక్కలు ఉన్నందున ఇది ఇబ్బందికర ప్రశ్నే.
గోవా–ఉత్తరాఖండ్ మధ్య నిబంధనల తేడాను ప్రస్తావించడం 'ఉమ్మడి' అనే పదానికే సవాలు విసిరే వాదన — ఇది న్యాయపరమైన కాకుండా రాజకీయ విశ్వసనీయత దాడి.
ఎన్డీఏ నియమించిన లా కమిషనే యూసీసీ అవసరం లేదని తేల్చిందన్న వాదనను ఒవైసీ ముందుకు తెస్తున్నారు; అయితే ప్రభుత్వ వైపు నుంచి దీనిపై ఈ కథనంలో ప్రతిస్పందన లేదు.

What to watch — ఎన్డీఏ మిత్రపక్షాలు — ప్రత్యేకించి తెలుగుదేశం, జేడీయూ, ఎల్‌జేపీ — యూసీసీపై బహిరంగంగా ఏమి చెబుతారో, మరో ఏ ఏ బీజేపీ రాష్ట్రాలు ముసాయిదా/బిల్లు దిశగా కదులుతాయో గమనించాలి; అలాగే ఎస్‌ఐఆర్–ఎన్‌ఆర్‌సీ అనుసంధానం అనే ఆరోపణ ప్రతిపక్షాల ఉమ్మడి ప్రచారాంశంగా మారుతుందా అన్నది కీలకం.

Deep dive

Research brief · 8 facts · 4 dates · exam-ready

The brief

Context

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said in Mumbai on Sunday that BJP-led NDA governments in 21 states would introduce a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) before 2029, citing the abolition of triple talaq and UCC laws already brought in some states. AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi responded in Hyderabad on Monday, alleging the push was aimed at targeting Muslims and violated Articles 25 and 14. Owaisi widened his attack to the NRC, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the full rendition of Vande Mataram, India-China ties, India-Pakistan sports, the BRICS summit in Delhi, and the closure of 252 madrassas in West Bengal. Shah also said the Centre was still in talks with allies and Manipur parties on whether a 1951 baseline would be used for the NRC there.

Key facts

Amit Shah said on Sunday in Mumbai that BJP-led NDA governments in 21 states would introduce the UCC before 2029.
Shah cited the abolition of triple talaq as having given Muslim women equal rights, and said UCC had been introduced in several states.
Owaisi alleged the UCC push violates Articles 25 (freedom of religion) and 14 (right to equality) of the Constitution.
Owaisi said the Law Commission appointed by the NDA government had concluded a UCC was neither necessary nor desirable.
Owaisi cited Goa's different UCC provisions and asked if the UCC followed in Uttarakhand would be applied there.
On SIR, Owaisi said the government provides ration to 80 crore people and questioned making them stand in queues with documents.
Owaisi alleged the West Bengal order closing 252 madrassas over lack of approvals violated Article 30 on minority educational institutions.
Owaisi said the 2025 BRICS Declaration called for interoperability between members' payment systems, and asked why the BRICS digital currency link was not pursued.

Timeline

2019Anti-CAA/NRC protests, which Owaisi attributed to Shah's "misplaced arrogance" and "chronology"; PM Modi later clarified no NRC would be implemented.
2025BRICS Declaration called for interoperability between members' payment systems to improve transaction efficiency.
Sunday (before Sep 14, 2026)Shah in Mumbai says NDA governments in 21 states will introduce UCC before 2029; says Centre in talks with allies and Manipur parties on NRC baseline.
Monday, Sep 14, 2026Owaisi, speaking to reporters in Hyderabad, opposes the UCC plan and raises NRC, SIR, Vande Mataram, BRICS and madrassa issues.

Who has a stake

Asaduddin Owaisi / AIMIM — Opposes UCC as targeting Muslims; frames the debate around Articles 14, 25 and 30 and pluralism.
Amit Shah / BJP-led NDA — Committed to introducing UCC in 21 NDA-ruled states before 2029; defends triple talaq abolition as equality for Muslim women.
NDA allies (N Chandrababu Naidu, Nitish Kumar, Chirag Paswan) — Owaisi questioned whether they would support the provisions of the UCC.
Muslim community and minority institutions — Personal law, freedom of religion, and 252 madrassas in West Bengal ordered shut for lack of approvals.
Voters and ration beneficiaries (80 crore) — Documentation burden alleged under SIR of electoral rolls and a possible subsequent NRC.
Manipur / State political parties — Shah said talks continue on whether a 1951 baseline would be used for NRC in the state.

Why it matters

The UCC is a long-contested constitutional question that pits uniformity of civil law against religious freedom and minority rights, and Shah's 2029 timeline turns it into an electoral commitment across 21 states. Owaisi's counter links it to the NRC, electoral roll revision and madrassa closures, framing a wider argument about minority rights and federal variation in personal law. The exchange also puts NDA allies on the spot, since state-level UCC laws such as Uttarakhand's differ from Goa's existing civil code.

UPSC angle

Prelims pointers

Article 25 guarantees freedom of religion; Article 14 guarantees equality before law; Article 30 gives minorities the right to establish and administer educational institutions.
Amit Shah's claim: UCC to be introduced in 21 BJP-NDA-ruled states before 2029.
Goa has its own civil code provisions; Uttarakhand is cited as a BJP-ruled state that has enacted a UCC.
SIR = Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls; Owaisi called it a "nasty joke".
Owaisi said the NDA-appointed Law Commission found a UCC neither necessary nor desirable.
2025 BRICS Declaration sought interoperability of members' payment systems; BRICS summit referred to in Delhi.

Mains framing

The renewed UCC push, announced as a target for 21 NDA-ruled states before 2029, revives the tension between the constitutional aspiration of a uniform civil law and the guarantees of religious freedom (Article 25), equality (Article 14) and minority educational rights (Article 30). Supporters, as reflected in Shah's remarks, present it as an equality measure in continuity with the abolition of triple talaq; critics like Owaisi argue it would effectively impose majority-derived norms on minorities and point out that an NDA-appointed Law Commission itself found a UCC neither necessary nor desirable. The federal dimension complicates matters: Goa's existing provisions differ from the UCC enacted in Uttarakhand, raising the question of whether a state-by-state route produces uniformity at all, and whether allies such as Chandrababu Naidu, Nitish Kumar and Chirag Paswan will endorse specific provisions. The debate is further entangled with citizenship and electoral documentation - the SIR of electoral rolls, the unresolved NRC question including the baseline year issue in Manipur - and with symbolic controversies over Vande Mataram and the closure of 252 madrassas in West Bengal. A credible way forward would rest on wide consultation, transparent draft texts, reconciliation of state variations, and reform sequencing that separates gender-justice measures from questions of religious identity.

Key terms

Uniform Civil Code (UCC): A common set of personal laws on matters like marriage, divorce and inheritance; Shah says 21 NDA states will introduce it before 2029.
AIMIM: All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, the Hyderabad-based party led by Asaduddin Owaisi.
NRC: National Register of Citizens; Owaisi alleges the government intends to conduct it after the SIR; Manipur baseline year still under discussion.
SIR: Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, which Owaisi criticised for making ordinary people queue with documents.
Article 30: Constitutional right of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions, invoked over the 252 madrassa closures.
BRICS Declaration 2025: Called for interoperability between member countries' payment systems to improve transaction efficiency.

Practice questions

Discuss the constitutional and federal challenges of implementing a Uniform Civil Code through state legislation, with reference to the differing provisions in Goa and Uttarakhand.
Examine the argument that a Uniform Civil Code advances equality under Article 14 while potentially limiting freedom of religion under Article 25. How can this tension be reconciled?
Critically evaluate the concerns raised about documentation-based exercises such as the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and the National Register of Citizens for ordinary citizens.

Grounded only in the source report — figures and dates are the source's, not inferred.

Next storyBJP plans 'Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra', Amit Shah rally on September 30 →

← All stories