Guwahati, May 20 (IANS) Assam Congress MLA, Nurul Huda, on Wednesday criticised the BJP-led state government over the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC), asserting that any law interfering with religious practices and personal customs would be opposed by his party.

Speaking to reporters here, Huda said the Congress Legislature Party would soon hold discussions regarding its stand on key issues, including the UCC Bill expected to be introduced during the upcoming Assembly session.

The Congress legislator said senior party leaders and observers are likely to attend the meeting where elected MLAs would jointly deliberate on the party’s strategy inside the Assembly.

“Our party’s senior leadership will discuss the matter with all Congress MLAs and a collective decision will be taken. Whatever decision is made by the leadership will be unanimously accepted by us,” Huda said.

Referring to the proposed Uniform Civil Code, the Congress MLA stated that while the government has the numerical strength to bring legislation, the Opposition would continue to resist provisions that, according to him, could affect religious customs and traditions.

“The government may bring the UCC, but we oppose what they are proposing. Every religion has its own customs, rules and religious practices. If any law hurts those religious principles, then naturally such a law will be opposed,” he said.

Huda also rejected attempts to categorise people on the basis of ethnicity or language and asserted his Assamese identity.

“People ask who is Assamese Muslim, who is Bengali or Nepali. We are children of Assam and were born on the soil of Assam. People should accept us as Assamese,” he remarked.

The Congress MLA further stated that the BJP government had failed to control rising prices and accused it of being disconnected from public concerns after the elections.

“Prices of essential commodities have increased sharply. The government has failed to control inflation. People voted with expectations, but now the government is ignoring the concerns of common citizens and is more focussed on protecting its chair,” Huda claimed.

The Assam government has indicated that the proposed UCC Bill may be introduced during the first session of the newly-constituted Assembly, which begins on Thursday. The issue is expected to trigger intense debate between the ruling BJP and Opposition parties during the four-day Assembly session.

–IANS

tdr/rad