A sharp new round of opposition to the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) has erupted in Madhya Pradesh, with Muslim leaders urging the community to join a September 17 demonstration at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi — nearly two months after the state assembly passed the UCC Bill on 21 July 2026. The legislation, awaiting the President's assent, has yet to come into force in the state.

AIMPLB Meeting in Bhopal

Members of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) convened a meeting at its Khanugaon campus in Bhopal on Monday to deliberate on the UCC. Following the session, Bhopal City Qazi Mushtaq Ali Nadvi and Congress leader Arif Masood — an executive committee member of the AIMPLB — addressed a press conference to formally register their opposition.

Nadvi questioned the constitutional basis of the proposed law, arguing that existing guarantees on religious freedom and minority rights made the UCC unnecessary. 'The Constitution guarantees religious freedom and the rights of minorities, so the necessity and impact of the UCC need to be seriously considered,' he said. He also referenced a 1972 speech attributed to former RSS chief M S Golwalkar, claiming Golwalkar had argued that a civil code was not essential for national unity.

Nadvi dismissed arguments that Muslim personal law fell short on women's rights, asserting that Islam had already granted women rights as mothers, daughters, and wives — including property rights.

Community Mobilisation for September 17

Both leaders appealed to Muslims and, in their words, 'secular citizens' to participate in the September 17 programme at Jantar Mantar. Masood said the Board had arrived at its position after broad consultations across the country. 'Five members associated with the Board in Madhya Pradesh deliberated on the issue and, with the Board's approval, we are appealing to people of the state to join the movement at Jantar Mantar on September 17,' he said.

The Political Backdrop: Amit Shah's Nationwide Push

The renewed debate in Madhya Pradesh coincides with a significant escalation of the issue at the national level. Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Sunday that the UCC would be introduced across all 21 states and Union Territories governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) before the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. That statement has sharply raised the political stakes for both the ruling alliance and opposition groups.

The UCC Bills have already been passed in Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Assam, and Madhya Pradesh. However, the law is currently operational only in Uttarakhand; Gujarat, Assam, and Madhya Pradesh are all awaiting presidential assent and formal notification.

Congress Joins the Opposition

Madhya Pradesh Congress President Jitu Patwari also trained his guns on the BJP over the UCC, alleging that the ruling party was using the issue as a distraction. 'UCC is a tool in the hands of the BJP to mislead the country and spread hatred,' Patwari said. The Congress's dual presence — both as a political party and through Masood's role on the AIMPLB executive — underscores how deeply the issue has woven into partisan lines ahead of the 2029 election cycle.

What Happens Next

The September 17 gathering at Jantar Mantar is set to be the most visible organised pushback against the UCC since the Madhya Pradesh bill's passage. The AIMPLB has indicated that further directions to the community will follow the protest. With the President's assent still pending for three of the four states that have passed UCC bills, and the Centre signalling an acceleration of the process before 2029, the confrontation between the government's legislative agenda and the organised resistance of religious groups is likely to intensify in the months ahead.