Guwahati: It is a matter of women’s empowerment. Yes, we are targeting Muslim men and trying to give freedom to Muslim women. Polygamy is practised largely by Muslims, and by banning it, we are trying to bring freedom to the life of Muslim women; Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on May 10 on the onset of the celebration of the completion of two years of his Government. He further said during the recent crackdown against child marriage, there was no public outrage against the government’s decision. It was a section of the media which was creating a panic situation. Even when banning polygamy, he stated that a section of the media is crying more than the public.
Meanwhile, opposing the step to ban polygamy, All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) leader MP Badruddin Ajmal said that Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is selectively targeting Muslim men. Ajmal said it is religious, and Chief Minister has no right to interfere. Now he acts like an enemy of Muslims. On the other hand, Mufti Nasir Ur Rahman of Al Jamatia Islamia Madrasa said that we have polygamy as a religious practice in Islam. It is the right of Muslims, and the Chief Minister shouldn’t interfere. The ban on polygamy will provoke the Muslim community, the mufti warned.
It should be mentioned that Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma led the Assam Government to ban polygamy in the State within the next six months. Chief Minister Sarma said that the Assam Government will form a special committee to examine the legal procedures to ban polygamy in the state. The Assam Government has decided to form an expert committee to examine whether the State Government has the authority to prohibit polygamy in the state or not, the Chief Minister said. The committee will scrutinise the provisions of the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Act 1937, along with Article 25 of the constitution of India, about the directive principle of state policy for a uniform civil code. The committee will extensively discuss with all stakeholders, including legal experts, to make a well-informed decision.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said there are very few polygamy practices amongst the Assamese-speaking Muslims. But polygamy is found largely in areas like Barak Valley, Hojai, Jamunamukh etc. These areas are mostly migrant Muslim-dominated. The Chief Minister also pointed out that during the recent crackdown against child marriage, it was found that people aged 60 to 65 years do polygamy and marry younger girls in Muslim areas. Chief Minister Sarma said a crackdown against child marriage is not enough; banning polygamy is equally important. It was found in the state that well-to-do elderly men marry much younger girls in the name of polygamy. But we don’t want to implement it forcefully.
