Guwahati, MLAs representing the ruling NDA in the Assam Assembly on Wednesday said the Uniform Civil Code Bill, introduced in the House two days ago, seeks to protect women's rights and is not against any religion or religious practice.
They dubbed the proposed legislation a historic move and emphasised that the tribal communities of the state have been kept out of the ambit of the Bill, ensuring that the traditional laws remain intact.
The NDA MLAs were speaking during a discussion on the UCC Bill, which has been taken up in the House for passage on the last day of the first session of the new Assembly.
BJP MLA and former state minister Pijush Hazarika urged support from all sections for the Bill, and claimed that it was "not against any religion or religious practice".
The Assam government had on Monday tabled the UCC Bill, seeking to ban polygamy and make registration of live-in relationships compulsory. The Bill, however, said that it will not be applicable to any person belonging to the Scheduled Tribes residing in Assam.
It proposed several punitive measures, including seven years imprisonment for bigamy or polygamy, and three months in jail for not registering a live-in relationship.
He questioned how an existing system is called a justice mechanism if men of one section are allowed to marry four times, without the consent of the previous wives.
"If we speak of equality of all religions, then these men of this section should be jailed," the BJP MLA asserted, without naming any religion.
Hitting out at the Congress for opposing the Bill, Hazarika said the opposition party was denying equal rights and respect for women by doing so.
He also pointed out that the proposed law does not ban live-in relationships, but only seeks their registration.
Showing a copy of the red-covered Constitution of the country that is often displayed by Congress leaders, Hazarika said, "The Congress and Rahul Gandhi went on shouting that the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi destroyed the Constitution. But they don't even know what is inside it."
He claimed that the Congress opposes any move to ban cow slaughter even though the Constitution is against it.
"The UCC Bill is a historic one, and I urge all to support it," he added.
BJP legislator Diplu Ranjan Sharma said bringing the Bill was a manifestation of the NDA's commitment to keep its assurances.
Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) legislator Prithiraj Rava said the UCC Act will help in addressing the changing demographic pattern in the state.
"Marrying more than once is not the main problem. The issue is several children from multiple marriages, which is leading to a population explosion and a change in demographic pattern," he said.
Rava said the government is committed to implementing the UCC as it will "benefit and protect our women".
Bodoland People's Front (BPF) MLA Rabiram Narzary, supporting the Bill, said that the age-old traditional laws of the tribals have been exempted from its ambit.
"For strengthening the unity and integrity of our country, such a law is a necessary step," he maintained.
Narzary sought clarity on the status of divorced tribal women married to non-tribals, and also urged that the relevant provisions under the existing law against SCs and STs remain intact even after the UCC is implemented.
