Owaisi attacks Shah's UCC pledge, warns against renewed citizenship verification
What's the story
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has slammed Union Home Minister Amit Shah's announcement of implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in all 21 BJP-NDA-ruled states by 2029. Owaisi accused the government of repeating "misplaced arrogance," similar to what he says led to the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act and National Register of Citizens protests in 2019. He linked the renewed citizenship verification discussions with the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which he said had already burdened ordinary citizens.
Citizenship concerns
Nationwide NRC could be problematic: Owaisi
Owaisi warned that a nationwide NRC could be much more problematic, especially for those who might not have documentary proof of citizenship.
He recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi's earlier statement during the protests that there had been no discussion on an NRC at the national level.
The AIMIM chief also said the SIR exercise has created major problems for minorities, SC/STs, and migrants.
Bureaucratic burden
'Where 80 crore people depend on ration for food...'
Owaisi also questioned the practicality of asking a large part of the population to produce documents for citizenship verification.
He asked, "In a country where 80 crore people depend on ration for food, you want them to find documents and prove their citizenship?"
The AIMIM chief alleged that this process could make ordinary citizens dependent on government officials for establishing their status.
"This government wants us to be at the mercy of one babu or another," he said.
Government stance
Shah announces UCC in all 21 BJP-NDA-ruled states by 2029
Shah had announced that BJP-led NDA governments in all 21 states would implement the UCC before the next Lok Sabha elections in 2029.
He cited the abolition of triple talaq and the implementation of UCC in some states as part of this reform agenda.
On NRC, he said discussions were ongoing with allies and political parties in Manipur, while reiterating the government's resolve to identify and deport illegal infiltrators.