Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav drew sharp criticism from opposition leaders on Saturday, 18 July, after he made remarks linking the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC) to residency rights in the state, with rivals accusing him of stoking communal sentiment to deflect from governance failures.

What Yadav Said

Speaking at a public event, CM Yadav stated: 'Under the proposed Uniform Civil Code, only a person who has one marriage will have the legal right to reside in Madhya Pradesh.' He further said: 'Why should there be separate laws for Hindus and Muslims? There should be one law for everyone. If Ram will marry once, why should Rahim marry twice or four times? Muslim sisters are also our sisters.'

Opposition Fires Back

Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal was among the first to respond, saying: 'They (BJP government in MP) will say anything. When they have power, they can do anything. They have no concern for the people. They are obsessed with power. They know that the day they lose power, no one will come to their aid.'

Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi, citing alleged links between Yadav's family and the Ujjain land deals, said: 'MP CM should say that whoever indulges in corruption does not deserve to hold a responsible position and saying so, he should resign.' He added: 'The nation understands his attempts to divert attention from the issue.'

Congress spokesperson Surendra Rajput said: 'Mohan Yadav has lost his mind because scams are continuously being exposed under his regime, like the land mafia.' Congress MLA Yadvendra Singh Bundela argued that Yadav 'does not have any issue left; that is why he talks on Hindu-Muslim-related things wherever he goes,' adding: 'What does he have to do with anyone's marriage or religion? Also, why is Lord Ram being dragged into all this?'

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MLA Bhai Virendra invoked the Constitution, saying: 'Everybody has the right to follow their religion in this secular country; the Constitution prescribes that. Such kinds of remarks should not be made and should not destroy the secular ethos of the country.'

A Voice in Support

Not all reactions were critical. Mahant Ravindra Puri, President of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad, backed Yadav's position, calling it 'a very good message.' Puri said India's ancient scriptures emphasise the principle of 'one woman, one husband,' arguing that adhering to this would help 'maintain a balance in population density' and prevent 'divorces, incidents of dowry harassment, and the killing of women after marriage.' He also urged chief ministers of all states to follow Yadav's lead.

Broader Context

The row erupts as the debate over the UCC continues to divide political opinion nationally. Uttarakhand became the first state to enact a UCC law in 2024, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has repeatedly signalled intent to push the code at the national level. Critics argue that state-level pronouncements on UCC — particularly those tying residency rights to marital status — risk overstepping constitutional boundaries. The opposition's simultaneous invocation of the Ujjain land scam suggests they view Yadav's remarks as a political distraction, a charge the BJP has not yet formally responded to.

With assembly elections on the horizon in several states, the UCC debate is likely to remain a flashpoint, and Yadav's remarks have ensured Madhya Pradesh is at its centre.