Assam CM Sarma: Congress surrendered to communal forces on UCC
Synopsis
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma turned the UCC debate into a history lesson — arguing that Congress, not BJP, was the original champion of a uniform civil code, and that today's Congress has betrayed that legacy by aligning with communal forces. The charge lands as the Assam Assembly passes the UCC Bill, raising the stakes for the national conversation.
Key Takeaways
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma accused Congress of surrendering to 'communal forces' during the UCC Bill debate in the Assam Assembly on Wednesday .
Sarma argued the UCC ideal originated with Congress leaders during the freedom movement, not with the BJP or RSS.
He alleged the party has abandoned the legacy of Rajendra Prasad and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and 'lost the courage to speak about secularism'.
The Chief Minister invoked the Indian Constitution , saying it directs India to progressively implement a Uniform Civil Code.
The BJP -led Assam government passed the UCC Bill ; Congress and other opposition parties opposed several of its provisions.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday launched a pointed attack on the Indian National Congress during the legislative debate on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill in the Assam Assembly, accusing the opposition of abandoning its own constitutional legacy and capitulating to what he called 'communal forces'.
Key Accusations Against Congress
Speaking ahead of the Bill's passage, Sarma argued that the UCC was never a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or RSS invention — it was, he said, a cherished ideal of Congress leaders during India's freedom movement. 'These efforts towards a Uniform Civil Code did not begin with the BJP or the RSS. Congress leaders during the freedom struggle had also dreamt of implementing a Uniform Civil Code in the country,' Sarma said in the House.
He alleged that the present-day Congress has drifted far from the ideological moorings of stalwarts such as Rajendra Prasad and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. 'Today's Congress is no longer the Congress of Rajendra Prasad or Sardar Patel. The party has lost the courage to speak about secularism,' he remarked.
Constitutional Mandate, Sarma Argues
The Chief Minister invoked the Indian Constitution itself to defend the UCC, asserting that its framers had envisaged a gradual move toward a common civil framework. 'The Constitution has clearly directed that, as the nation progresses, India should move towards implementing a Uniform Civil Code,' he said.
Sarma further alleged that Congress had prioritised religious considerations over constitutional principles in opposing the legislation. 'The responsibility of Congress was to represent the Constitution. Instead, today the party is only speaking about Shariat and the Quran,' he alleged.
Charges of Political Opportunism
Sarma also accused Congress of aligning with what he termed 'communal forces' in states including Assam and Kerala for electoral advantage. He claimed the party no longer had the confidence to address all religions evenhandedly, and had narrowed its political discourse to selective religious issues.
Government's Stand and Opposition Response
The BJP-led Assam government has defended the proposed UCC as a measure to guarantee equality and uniform civil rights for all citizens. Congress and other opposition parties have, however, opposed several provisions of the Bill, arguing it threatens personal law protections for minority communities.
The passage of the UCC Bill in the Assam Assembly marks a significant step in the broader national debate over a uniform civil code — a subject that has divided political parties, legal experts, and civil society for decades.
Point of View
He attempts to strip the opposition of its secularism argument and recast BJP as the true heir of the constitutional vision. It is a well-worn rhetorical move, but one that carries weight when the Constitution's Directive Principles genuinely do reference a uniform civil code. What the debate obscures is the substantive legal question — whether the specific provisions of the Assam UCC Bill align with that constitutional aspiration or selectively target personal laws of minority communities. That scrutiny, largely absent from the Assembly floor, is where the real accountability lies.
NationPress
12 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma say about Congress and the UCC?
Sarma accused Congress of abandoning its own constitutional legacy and surrendering to 'communal forces' by opposing the Uniform Civil Code Bill. He argued that UCC was originally a Congress ideal from the freedom movement era, not a BJP invention.
What is the Assam Uniform Civil Code Bill?
The Assam UCC Bill is legislation passed by the BJP-led Assam Assembly aimed at establishing a uniform set of civil laws — covering areas like marriage, divorce, and inheritance — applicable to all citizens regardless of religion. The BJP government has defended it as a measure for equality; opposition parties have raised concerns about its impact on minority personal laws.
Why did Sarma invoke Rajendra Prasad and Sardar Patel?
Sarma cited these Congress stalwarts to argue that today's Congress has drifted from its own founders' vision of a secular, uniform civil framework. He alleged the current party lacks the courage to speak about secularism as its founders did.
What is Congress's position on the UCC Bill in Assam?
Congress and other opposition parties opposed several provisions of the Assam UCC Bill, arguing it threatens personal law protections for minority communities. Sarma characterised this stance as prioritising religious considerations over constitutional principles.
Does the Indian Constitution mention a Uniform Civil Code?
Yes. Article 44 of the Indian Constitution, under the Directive Principles of State Policy, directs the state to endeavour to secure a Uniform Civil Code for citizens. Sarma cited this provision to argue that implementing a UCC fulfils a constitutional obligation.
