Assam BJP MLA accuses Congress of opposing women's rights after UCC passage
Synopsis
Assam's BJP government passed the Uniform Civil Code in the state Assembly — and the political battle lines are already drawn. BJP MLA Rishiraj Hazarika has accused Congress of opposing women's property rights during the debate, a charge that escalates what was already a contentious session into a direct electoral flashpoint over women's welfare and minority personal laws.
Key Takeaways
The Assam Assembly passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) on 27 May with a majority, under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma .
BJP MLA Rishiraj Hazarika alleged that Congress opposed provisions granting property rights to women during the Assembly debate.
The BJP described the UCC as fulfilment of a pre-election promise made before the Assam Assembly elections .
Congress raised concerns about the bill's implications for personal laws and minority communities, according to reports from the Assembly session.
Hazarika represents the Ranganadi Assembly constituency and reaffirmed the government's commitment to women's safety and empowerment.
Assam Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Rishiraj Hazarika on Thursday, 28 May accused the opposition Indian National Congress (Congress) of opposing provisions aimed at protecting women's rights, including property rights, following the passage of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the Assam Legislative Assembly. Hazarika, representing the Ranganadi Assembly constituency, made the remarks a day after the UCC was cleared by a majority in the House.
UCC Passed in Assam Assembly
The Assam Assembly on Wednesday, 27 May passed the Uniform Civil Code bill with a majority, fulfilling what the ruling BJP described as a pre-election commitment. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's government had reportedly pledged to introduce the UCC in the very first Assembly session after returning to power.
'We had already told the people that once our government returns, the UCC would be introduced in the very first Assembly session. Yesterday, we brought the UCC, and it was passed with a majority,' Hazarika said.
BJP's Allegations Against Congress
Hazarika levelled sharp allegations against Congress over its conduct during the Assembly debate, claiming the opposition had actively resisted provisions intended to protect women. 'Yesterday, everyone saw in the Assembly the kind of statements they were making. They are opposing provisions related to women, and even have problems with giving property rights to women. This clearly shows that Congress does not want women's safety and empowerment,' he alleged.
The BJP MLA also reiterated his party's stated commitment to women's welfare. 'Our party has consistently supported women's safety and women's reservation. We are continuously working through various departments for women's empowerment,' he said.
Congress Raises Concerns Over Personal Laws
The Assembly session on Wednesday witnessed a heated exchange, with the ruling BJP defending the UCC as a progressive reform and the opposition raising concerns about its potential impact on personal laws and minority communities. Congress legislators reportedly questioned certain provisions of the bill, though the party has not independently confirmed the specific allegations made by Hazarika.
Government's Assurance on Women's Security
Hazarika, who won his seat in the recently concluded Assam Assembly elections, reaffirmed that the state government would continue prioritising women's security and rights. 'We assure the people that women's safety will always remain protected under this government. Under the leadership of Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, work for women's welfare and security will continue,' he added.
This comes amid a broader national debate over the UCC, with several BJP-governed states signalling intent to legislate on the issue ahead of any central framework. Assam's passage of the bill marks one of the more consequential state-level moves on the UCC in recent years. The political fallout — and the legal scrutiny that typically follows such legislation — is expected to unfold in the weeks ahead.
Point of View
Not just procedural objections in the Assembly. Assam's move also sets a precedent: state-level UCCs, enacted before any central legislation, will face inevitable constitutional scrutiny on whether states have the jurisdiction to legislate on personal law. That legal question — largely absent from the political noise — may ultimately matter more than the Assembly vote count.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Uniform Civil Code passed in Assam?
The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is a legislation passed by the Assam Assembly on 27 May, which the ruling BJP describes as a unified framework governing personal matters such as marriage, divorce, and inheritance across communities. The BJP government under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had pledged to introduce it in the first Assembly session after returning to power.
Why is Congress opposing the Assam UCC?
Congress legislators raised concerns during the Assembly debate about the bill's potential impact on personal laws and minority communities. BJP MLA Rishiraj Hazarika alleged Congress also opposed provisions granting property rights to women, a charge Congress has not independently confirmed or addressed in detail.
Who is Rishiraj Hazarika?
Rishiraj Hazarika is a BJP MLA who won from the Ranganadi Assembly constituency in the recently concluded Assam Assembly elections. He made the allegations against Congress on 28 May, a day after the UCC was passed in the state Assembly.
What did Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma say about the UCC?
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has not been directly quoted in the available reports, but his government defended the UCC as a progressive reform during the Assembly debate. BJP legislators cited his leadership as central to fulfilling the party's pre-election promise on the UCC.
What happens next after Assam passes the UCC?
The legislation is likely to face legal scrutiny over whether state governments have jurisdiction to enact a uniform civil code ahead of any central legislation. Political reactions from opposition parties and community groups are also expected to intensify in the coming weeks.
