'They Have Already Decided To...': Oppn Hits Out At Assam Govt For Seeking Public Views On Law To Ban Polygamy

The Congress said the Assam govt's proposed law to ban polygamy was BJP's agenda to harass some communities while TMC called it a 'cheap political gimmick'.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma

Source : PTI

A day after Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma sought public suggestions on the proposed law to ban polygamy, the Opposition hit out at the government for not doing so earlier. Speaking to ABP Live, senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Assam Assembly Debabrata Saikia said the proposed legislation to ban polygamy was BJP's political agenda to harass some communities.

"When there is already a proposal to bring the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), it was not necessary to ban polygamy in the state. Once UCC is enacted, all the provisions will be covered under it," Saikia told ABP Live.

The Congress leader said the government was already on the verge to enact the law in the state and seeking public views now was futile.

"The Assam government's move to seek suggestions from the public on polygamy is nothing but a bid to appease a section of the society. If the state government is so concerned, why did they not do it earlier. They have already decided to enact the law as they have formed an expert committee on it that has already filed its report and the Assam government is already on the verge to enact the law in the state," Saikia further said.

The All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) said the Assam government's move to enact the law to ban polygamy was a complete violation of Article 25 and Article 26 of the constitution.

"A ban on polygamy will not only be applicable for the Muslim community but other common people too. In Islam, a second marriage is allowed but there are certain norms that need to be followed. A state government cannot alone enact such a law," AIUDF general secretary and chief spokesperson Aminul Islam told ABP Live.

Islam said Sarma's intention through the law was to polarise the people and prove that he was a good Chief Minister. 

"He wants to harass the Muslim community and impress the other people of the state. It is completely a political move," Islam further said. 

The Trinamool Congress (TMC), Assam unit, called it BJP's "cheap political gimmick" to gain instant popularity.

Speaking to ABP Live, Assam TMC chief Ripun Bora said, "We don't support the polygamy law. It cannot be imposed on the people. If at all the law is enacted, it should not only be done with public opinion but there should be proper awareness among the people."

The Assam government on Monday asked the public to send their suggestions and opinions on the proposed law to ban polygamy in the state. The state government issued a public notice asking people to send their suggestions on the proposed law to ban polygamy in Assam by August 30.

On May 11 this year, the Assam government had constituted a four-member expert committee to examine the legislative competence of the state legislature to enact the law. The expert committee submitted its report to the state government on August 6.

Polygamy is a type of marriage that involves marrying more than one partner.