Assam Congress MLA Nurul Huda on Wednesday came out strongly against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led state government's proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, warning that any legislation encroaching on religious customs and personal practices would face firm opposition from his party. Huda's remarks came ahead of the first session of the newly-constituted Assam Legislative Assembly, set to begin on Thursday, where the UCC Bill is widely expected to be tabled.

Congress to Deliberate Collective Strategy

Speaking to reporters in Guwahati, Huda said the Congress Legislature Party would convene a meeting shortly to finalise its position on the UCC and other key legislative matters. Senior party leaders and observers are expected to attend, with all elected MLAs set to jointly deliberate on the party's approach inside the Assembly.

'Our party's senior leadership will discuss the matter with all Congress MLAs and a collective decision will be taken. Whatever decision is made by the leadership will be unanimously accepted by us,' Huda said.

Opposition Stand on the UCC

Huda acknowledged that the ruling BJP commands the numbers to push the Bill through the House, but asserted that the Opposition would not relent on provisions it believes threaten religious traditions. 'The government may bring the UCC, but we oppose what they are proposing. Every religion has its own customs, rules and religious practices. If any law hurts those religious principles, then naturally such a law will be opposed,' he said.

This comes amid a broader national debate over the UCC, with Uttarakhand having already enacted its own version in 2024 — the first state in independent India to do so. Assam's move, if it proceeds, would mark a significant escalation of the issue in a state with a substantial Muslim minority population.

Identity and Belonging: Huda's Broader Message

The Congress MLA also pushed back against what he described as attempts to divide communities along ethnic and linguistic lines. Asserting his Assamese identity, Huda said, 'People ask who is Assamese Muslim, who is Bengali or Nepali. We are children of Assam and were born on the soil of Assam. People should accept us as Assamese.'

The remarks are notable in the context of Assam's complex demographic landscape, where questions of identity, migration, and citizenship have long been politically charged.

Congress Attacks BJP on Inflation, Governance

Huda also trained his sights on the state government's economic record, accusing the BJP of failing to rein in the cost of living. 'Prices of essential commodities have increased sharply. The government has failed to control inflation. People voted with expectations, but now the government is ignoring the concerns of common citizens and is more focussed on protecting its chair,' he claimed.

Assembly Session and What's Next

The Assam government has indicated that the UCC Bill may be introduced during the first session of the newly-constituted Assembly, which begins on Thursday. The four-day session is expected to see intense floor debate between the ruling BJP and Opposition parties. How the Congress Legislature Party formally positions itself — and whether it moves amendments or stages a walkout — will be closely watched as the session unfolds.