New Delhi

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday welcomed the passage of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill by the Gujarat Legislative Assembly, describing it as a significant step toward ensuring equal laws for all citizens.

In a post on X, Shah said that since its inception, the BJP has been committed to the idea of a uniform legal framework for all Indians, irrespective of religion. He added that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP-ruled states have been steadily advancing this vision.

देश में हर नागरिक के लिए एक समान कानून हो, यह भाजपा का स्थापना से ही संकल्प रहा है। मोदी जी के नेतृत्व में भाजपा की राज्य सरकारें इस दिशा में निरंतर आगे बढ़ रही हैं। मुझे हर्ष है कि उत्तराखंड के बाद अब गुजरात ने भी समान नागरिक संहिता (UCC) विधेयक पारित करने का ऐतिहासिक कार्य कर…

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) March 25, 2026

Shah expressed satisfaction that Gujarat has joined Uttarakhand in passing the UCC legislation, calling it a “historic task.” He congratulated Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and the legislators who supported the Bill.

“The country should be run not on the basis of appeasement, but through equal laws for all citizens—this is both our priority and our resolve,” Shah said.

The Gujarat Assembly passed the Bill on Tuesday after an extensive debate lasting over seven hours. The legislation aims to establish a common legal framework governing personal matters such as marriage, divorce, succession, and live-in relationships, irrespective of religious affiliation.

Among its key provisions, the Bill mandates registration of marriages and live-in relationships and prescribes a punishment of up to seven years’ imprisonment for marriages conducted through force, coercion, or fraud. It also bans practices such as bigamy and polygamy.

The ruling BJP has termed the Bill a landmark reform that promotes equality and legal uniformity. However, the Opposition, including Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party, strongly opposed the legislation. They argued that it infringes upon fundamental rights and disproportionately affects minority communities, with some leaders describing it as “anti-Muslim.”

Opposition members also demanded that the Bill be referred to a select committee of the Assembly for further scrutiny, a demand that was not accepted. The legislation was eventually passed by a majority voice vote.

Notably, the Bill includes exemptions for tribal communities, a provision that has also drawn attention in the broader debate.

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The passage of the UCC Bill in Gujarat marks another step in the ongoing national discourse on the implementation of a uniform civil code, a subject that has long been politically and socially contentious in India.