Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday, 24 August launched a pointed attack on Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of selectively invoking women's rights to discredit Hinduism while remaining silent on what Sarma described as patriarchal practices within Sharia. Sarma then issued a direct political challenge, asking Gandhi whether he would unequivocally support a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) guaranteeing equal rights to all citizens irrespective of religion.

The Core Accusation

In a post on X, Sarma alleged that Gandhi's engagement with gender equality was not a principled stand but a targeted campaign against Hindu religious traditions. 'Rahul Gandhi is no champion of women's rights. He is simply a Hindu baiter,' Sarma said, claiming that women's empowerment was being used as a 'convenient smokescreen' to discredit Hindu Dharma.

Sarma drew a distinction between the Manusmriti and Sharia jurisprudence, arguing that the Manusmriti does not hold the status of a universally binding religious code for Hindus. He contended that Hinduism's defining strength lies in its capacity to evolve. 'Hinduism lies in its unique ability to evolve, reform and adapt with time,' he said.

Congress Record on Muslim Women's Rights

Sarma trained his fire on the Indian National Congress (INC) over its historical record on Muslim women's issues, alleging the party had 'betrayed' women by reversing the effect of the Supreme Court's Shah Bano judgment — a reference to the 1986 Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, which critics argue diluted the court's ruling on maintenance rights. He further alleged that Congress had opposed legislation banning the practice of triple talaq, a charge the party contests.

Karnataka Cabinet Claim

The Assam Chief Minister also pointed to the Congress-led government in Karnataka, claiming that Gandhi had ensured no woman was included in the state Cabinet in order to consolidate political power. The allegation adds a regional dimension to what is framing up as a sustained national-level political offensive by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of ongoing debates over personal law reform.

The UCC Challenge

At the heart of Sarma's statement was a direct question to Gandhi on the Uniform Civil Code. 'If women's equality truly comes before politics, will he unequivocally support a Uniform Civil Code that guarantees equal rights irrespective of religion?' Sarma asked. The UCC — which would replace religion-specific personal laws governing marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption — has been a long-standing demand of the BJP and remains one of the most contested proposals in Indian constitutional politics.

This comes amid a broader national debate on gender justice, personal laws, and UCC implementation. The BJP has accelerated its UCC push since Uttarakhand became the first state to enact a UCC in 2024, while Congress and several opposition parties argue that such a code must not be imposed without wider consultation with religious communities.

Political Context

Sarma's remarks reflect a pattern of BJP leaders using the UCC as both a policy proposal and a political wedge, framing opposition to it as evidence of minority appeasement. Critics of the BJP, in turn, argue that the party's selective emphasis on Muslim personal law ignores reform needs within other religious communities. The exchange signals that gender justice and personal law will remain flashpoints in the lead-up to future electoral cycles.