The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has opposed the uniform civil code and anti-religious conversion laws enacted by various state governments.
The AIMPLB also described the organisations pursuing the legal case for restoring the Gyanvapi masjid in Varanasi and Idgah (Krishna janmabhoomi) at Mathura as separatists.
“Implementing the uniform civil code is against the spirit of the Constitution as this will deprive citizens of the privileges provided by the Islamic personal law. Such a code is neither relevant nor beneficial for a multi-religious, multicultural and multilingual society like India,” said a resolution adopted by the AIMPLB in a meeting of its executive committee held here on Sunday.
Issuing a warning to the Narendra Modi government, the resolution said, “If taking advantage of its majority in Parliament, the government passes the bill and implements the uniform civil code, it will affect the unity, integrity and harmony that binds the nation.”
The AIMPLB appealed to the Central government to not pursue this agenda and focus on the present issues of the people and the country.
Expressing concern over the pending litigation over the Gyanvapi mosque at Varanasi and Idgah at Mathura, the resolution said, “Places of Worship Act, 1991 was passed by the then Congress government of PV Narasimha Rao and it is the duty of the Central government to ensure its implementation in national interest otherwise it could lead to endless differences among different religious groups.”
The AIMPLB also said, “The government must not surrender to the separatist powers and should safeguard the legal interest of all.”
Civil suits are pending in district courts of Varanasi and Mathura claiming that the Gyanvapi mosque was constructed after demolishing the Kashi Vishwanath temple and Idgah was constructed by demolishing the Krishna janmabhoomi temple in Mathura.
Deploring the various state governments for legislating the anti-conversion laws, the AIMPLB resolution said: “Religion and faith are matters of belief and conscience and the Constitution duly recognises this as fundamental right.”
The resolution added: “Anti-conversion laws are totally unacceptable and those who willingly chose to switch from one religion to another are free to do so.”
The AIMPLB also adopted a resolution on waqf properties and deplored the statements by political leaders about the waqf properties. Several petitions are pending in the Supreme Court challenging the constitutional validity of the Waqf Act, 1995.
The AIMPLB advised Muslims to resolve their issues by first turning to religious heads for advice. “Islam means surrender to god and it is the basic duty of Muslims to follow religion and beliefs by the book. Intoxication, adultery, interest, homosexuality and living with the divorced spouse are practices that do not befit a true Muslim though not enforced by the law of the land.”
The AIMPLB also advised the Muslims to follow the Nikahnama authorised it to seal a matrimonial alliance, where the rights and duties of husband and wife are enumerated.