Keep door of the debate open, says Naqvi to Muslim bodies

In the wake of prominent Muslim bodies boycotting Law Commission's questionnaire on Uniform Civil Code, Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi today urged "all sections" of the community to "keep open" door of the debate and join the discussions on reforms sans any prejudice. "We are an open, democratic and secular country. The debate should happen. The current effort should not be looked with a prejudiced mindset, but an open mindset. Keep the door of the debate open," Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs Minister (Independent Charge) Naqvi told PTI. He refuted allegations that the BJP-led NDA government is interfering in the religious practices of Muslims through the Commission and said reforms are taking place in other countries too. "It is not right to say that the government is interfering in this matter. We only want a healthy and logical debate to happen. This will help all: those supporting the view and also those opposing it," he stated. The Board and various other outfits today opposed the Commission's questionnaire on the Code and announced their boycott of the move, accusing the government of waging a "war" against the community. They organisations contended that UCC, if implemented, will paint all people in "one colour" which will threaten the country's pluralism and diversity. Trashing government's stand on the issue of triple talaq, the outfits instead claimed the community has reported lesser number of divorce cases vis-a-vis other communities, especially the Hindu community which, they said, has reported higher divorce ratio according to Census 2011.