The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) held an emergency meeting late Tuesday night for a discussion after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed the need to have a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the country.
The virtual meeting of the Islamic personal legal body lasted for about three hours during which legal aspects of the UCC were discussed.
The AIMPLB agreed on presenting its views more strongly in front of the Law Commission.
The Muslim board decided to oppose the proposed law (UCC) while documents to be submitted to the federal Law Commission have also been finalized.
The meeting was attended by AIMPLB president Saifullah Rehmani, chairman of Islamic Centre of India and member of AIMPLB Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali, AIMPLB lawyers, and others.
The proposed law seeks to formulate and implement a set of common personal laws for all the citizens of India regardless of their religion, caste, and creed.
The meeting of the Muslim board came hours after Modi, while addressing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers, made a strong pitch for the UCC, saying that even the Constitution mentions equal rights for all citizens.
Indian Prime Minister said the BJP had decided not to adopt the path of appeasement and vote bank politics. He also alleged that the Opposition was using the issue to mislead and provoke the Muslim community.
A private member's Bill that seeks to provide for a panel to prepare a UCC was introduced in the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of the Indian Parliament) in September last year amid resistance by opposition parties.
In the past, although similar bills were listed for introduction, they were not moved in the upper house.
Earlier this month, the Law Commission started a fresh consultation process on the UCC, seeking views from all stakeholders.