Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders on Wednesday, 16 September 2026 launched a coordinated counter-offensive against All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) President Asaduddin Owaisi over his opposition to the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), questioning why the Hyderabad MP objected to equal legal rights for all citizens. The political exchange follows Union Home Minister Amit Shah's announcement that all 21 NDA-ruled states will implement the UCC before the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.

What Owaisi Said

Responding to Shah's statement earlier in the week, Owaisi alleged that the BJP was pursuing the UCC not to ensure equality but to target 18 crore Muslims in the country. 'The first thing we need to understand is that the BJP is not doing this for equality. It is only to target Muslims,' Owaisi said, adding that the UCC amounted to 'imposing Hindu laws on non-Hindus.' He also cited a report by the Law Commission — constituted under the Narendra Modi government — which, he claimed, had concluded that a UCC was 'neither necessary nor desirable for India.'

BJP Leaders Push Back

Madhya Pradesh Minister Vishwas Sarang directly challenged Owaisi's position, arguing that the UCC would ensure uniform marriage laws across communities. 'It is now certain that no one in the country will be able to have two, three or four marriages. The same will apply in Madhya Pradesh as well. This is why Asaduddin Owaisi is so upset. If Muslim women are receiving protection and their interests are being safeguarded, then why is Asaduddin Owaisi upset?' Sarang said.

BJP MP Gulam Ali Khatana framed the UCC as a democratic imperative, arguing uniformity in civil law was consistent with equal sacrifice by citizens. 'India is a democracy, and governments take decisions based on the people's wishes. The law should be uniform for every citizen. If everyone makes equal sacrifices for the country, there should also be uniformity in the law,' Khatana said.

Spokesperson Calls Owaisi's Claims False

BJP National Spokesperson Guru Prakash accused the AIMIM chief of deliberately misleading the public. 'You are misleading people and lying. It is a Common Civil Code. Who told you that it will be based on Hindu rules? It will be equal for everyone, universal for everyone,' Guru Prakash said. He also challenged Owaisi — a practising barrister — to contest the legislation in court if he believed it was flawed. 'You are a barrister, Owaisi ji. If you think there is a problem, go and file an affidavit in court,' he added, describing the opposition as 'fear-mongering among communities.'

State Ministers Join the Chorus

Uttar Pradesh Minister Narendra Kashyap urged Owaisi to read the UCC before opposing it. 'Owaisi sahib looks for Hindu-Muslim issues in every law, and it is on the basis of his politics of appeasement that discord is created in society,' Kashyap said. Madhya Pradesh BJP MLA Rameshwar Sharma went further, questioning both Owaisi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over their opposition, saying: 'I want to ask Owaisi and Rahul Gandhi, what problem do you have with the UCC? Is the law made by Babasaheb Ambedkar bad?'

Where the UCC Stands Across States

Uttarakhand remains the only state where a modern UCC is currently in active force, while Goa has historically operated under its own common civil code. Gujarat, Assam, and Madhya Pradesh passed UCC bills through their state Assemblies in 2026, though the legislation is awaiting presidential assent or rule notifications before taking full effect. Shah's announcement signals a broader push to extend the framework to all 21 NDA-governed states ahead of the next general election.