Owaisi: UCC violates Articles 14, 25, 26, 29 of Indian Constitution
Synopsis
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi used a Lucknow platform to challenge the Uniform Civil Code on constitutional grounds, arguing it imposes Hindu personal laws on non-Hindus while selectively exempting tribals — and dared the Yogi government to name the law under which a Kanpur graveyard was bulldozed at 5 AM.
Key Takeaways
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi stated on 20 September 2026 in Lucknow that the UCC violates Articles 14, 25, 26, and 29 of the Indian Constitution.
He alleged the UCC effectively imposes the Hindu Marriage Act , Hindu Divorce Act , and Hindu Succession Act on non-Hindu communities.
Owaisi demanded parity with tribal communities, who have been exempted from the UCC, arguing Muslims share similar grounds for exemption.
He criticised the Yogi Adityanath government over the alleged bulldozing of a graveyard in Kanpur at 5 AM , questioning its legal basis.
On UP jobs, he demanded the government first fill existing vacancies in state services and police, which he said have remained unfilled for 11 years .
On AIMIM ’s election strategy, Owaisi said it was ‘too early to say’ whether the party would contest independently or in alliance.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi on Sunday, 20 September 2026, renewed his attack on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), asserting that it violates Articles 14, 25, 26, and 29 of the Indian Constitution. Speaking in Lucknow, Owaisi argued that the UCC in its current form amounts to the imposition of Hindu personal laws on non-Hindu communities.
Owaisi's Constitutional Argument
Owaisi invoked the legacy of the Constitution's principal drafter, stating: “You cannot abolish Articles 25, 26, 29 and 14 in the name of the UCC. What is in the Constitution of India was drafted by Babasaheb Ambedkar.” He challenged the logic of extending Hindu personal statutes — specifically the Hindu Marriage Act, the Hindu Divorce Act, and the Hindu Succession Act — to communities that do not follow Hindu customs or traditions.
The AIMIM chief drew a pointed parallel with the tribal exemption built into the UCC framework. He noted that tribals have been excluded because their religion, culture, and family life differ from the mainstream — and pressed the government to explain why Muslims should not receive the same exemption on identical grounds.
Demolitions in Uttar Pradesh
Owaisi sharply criticised the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government over what he described as unlawful demolitions of religious sites. He cited the alleged bulldozing of a graveyard in Kanpur at 5 AM, two days before the interview. “Under what law did you do this? The law regarding ‘Waqf by user’ is still in force. You have completely flouted the due process of that law. You are demolishing mosques — what kind of governance is this?” he said.
This comes amid a pattern of demolition actions in Uttar Pradesh that have drawn legal challenges and opposition criticism over the past two years. Critics argue such actions bypass judicial oversight; the state government contends they target illegal encroachments.
On Jobs and UP Government Vacancies
On the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Uttar Pradesh announcing a programme to provide employment to one lakh youth ahead of elections, Owaisi demanded that existing government and police vacancies — running into lakhs — be filled first. “Why haven’t they been filled over the last 11 years?” he asked, framing the jobs announcement as pre-election optics rather than structural reform.
On Congress, BSP and Alliance Prospects
When asked to respond to the controversy surrounding Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi’s ‘chhatron ki goonj’ programme — and BJP allegations that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s late mother was insulted during the event — Owaisi deflected, saying, “The Congress party has capable people who will answer your question.”
On BSP chief Mayawati assigning a new responsibility to Ishan Anand, he was measured: “Mayawati is a very prominent leader of this country. On her own strength and without any family support, she formed a government with a complete majority and became Chief Minister several times. It is a matter concerning her party, and she will decide.” Asked whether AIMIM would contest the upcoming elections independently or in alliance, Owaisi was guarded: “It’s too early to say, but you will know soon.”
As the Uttar Pradesh electoral season heats up, Owaisi’s remarks signal that UCC and demolition politics will remain central fault lines in the state’s political discourse.
Point of View
But attacking the specific mechanism by which Hindu personal law statutes are reportedly being adapted as the UCC’s template. The tribal exemption is his sharpest rhetorical weapon: if cultural distinctiveness justifies exclusion for one group, the same logic should apply to another, and the government has not yet offered a principled counter. The Kanpur graveyard demolition episode, meanwhile, reflects a broader pattern of due-process questions around bulldozer actions in UP that courts have increasingly flagged. With UP elections on the horizon, Owaisi’s positioning — attacking both the BJP on UCC and demolitions while staying non-committal on alliances — suggests AIMIM is keeping its options open for maximum leverage.
NationPress
20 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Asaduddin Owaisi's objection to the Uniform Civil Code?
Owaisi argues the UCC violates Articles 14, 25, 26, and 29 of the Indian Constitution by effectively applying Hindu personal laws — such as the Hindu Marriage Act and Hindu Succession Act — to non-Hindu communities. He made these remarks in Lucknow on 20 September 2026.
Why does Owaisi say Muslims should be exempt from the UCC like tribals?
Owaisi pointed out that tribal communities have been excluded from the UCC on the grounds that their religion, culture, and family life are distinct. He argued Muslims share the same grounds — distinct religion, culture, and family practices — and should therefore receive the same exemption.
What did Owaisi say about the Kanpur graveyard demolition?
Owaisi alleged that a graveyard in Kanpur was demolished by a bulldozer at 5 AM, two days before his Lucknow remarks. He questioned the legal basis for the action, arguing the law on ‘Waqf by user’ remains in force and due process was not followed.
What did Owaisi say about unemployment and jobs in Uttar Pradesh?
Owaisi dismissed the BJP government’s pre-election announcement of jobs for one lakh youth, demanding instead that existing vacancies in Uttar Pradesh’s government departments and police — numbering in the lakhs — be filled first. He asked why those posts had remained vacant for 11 years.
Will AIMIM contest the upcoming elections alone or in alliance?
Owaisi said it was ‘too early to say’ whether AIMIM would contest independently or in alliance, adding that a decision would be known ‘soon.’ He did not name any potential alliance partner.
