Letters: False claims

While discussing the need for applying Uniform Civil Code to all communities, G David Milton, in his letter, "Preserve pluralism" (October 17), suggests "the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, Muslim clerics and theologians" represent all Muslims. It is as fallacious as to say that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Vishwa Hindu Parishad stand for all Hindus.

As regards amending Hindu personal laws pertaining to marriage, divorce, adoption, inheritance, property rights and succession, Hindu society has taken recourse to various Acts - most of these aim at liberating women from the shackles of patriarchal traditions.

The letter suggests personal issues should be left to be decided by the Muslim society. If Lord William Bentinck, then Governor General of Bengal in 1828, had thought so, the custom of sati would have continued for decades. Many Muslims feel their personal laws are regressive and their scholars, too, have opposite views on matters like triple talaq. The question is one of gender justice, not religion.

Y G Chouksey, Pune

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