RSS blames Pandit Jawaharalal Nehru for civil code mess

An internal newsletter of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has claimed that the first Prime Minister of the nation, Pandit Jawaharalal Nehru, pushed for the Hindu Personal Law because he wanted it to benefit his daughter (Indira). The article alleges that Pandit Nehru showed a lot of interest in passing the Hindu Civil Code, because he didn’t have a son, and wanted to pass on all his property and royalty from books legally to his daughter Indira.

To explain why Nehru wanted the Hindu Civil Code passed, the article states: “In 1947, when India got freedom from British, Hindus still practiced the multiple wives system, even child marriage was prevalent and women had no rights in their husband or father’s property”.

The article talks about how politicians managed to stop Hindus from having multiple wives and amended the bill and passed it, but got cold feet when it came to the minority community. “The code for Hindus abolished multiple wives, thus giving women equal rights and a respectable position in the society. However, some Muslims objected to it and even our leaders, to please them like the British, didn’t force it, instead kept it for future,” reads the report.

The newsletter, mailed to RSS members, has this article among the top four. The article appears at a time when a case over triple talaq is being heard in the Supreme Court. The BJP-led central government has already stated that it does not endorse triple talaq or polygamy.

The RSS newsletter further states that the Indian Constitution guarantees equal rights to every citizen, be it male or female. “However, every time the topic of Uniform Civil Code comes up, Muslim fundamentalists talk about Shariat. They are of the belief that Uniform Civil Code will adversely impact Muslim traditions. They rest their argument on the Constitution — about freedom of practicing one’s religion. However, they forget that every man and woman is given equal right by the same Constitution. A Muslim male can marry four times, but a Muslim woman can’t. Isn’t that wrong...,” the letter states.

The article concludes with the example of Goa, where the civil code, brought in by the Portuguese, is still prevalent and how Muslim women had, in the 80s, boycotted the personal law boards. “There is a need for Muslim community to come together and raise its voice in favour of Uniform Civil Code, as it will mean that population is controlled, the oral triple talaq will go and women will get equal rights. Also, smaller family would mean prosperity for the Muslims.”

When contacted, AICC national spokesperson Anant Gadgil said that this was the typical functioning style of the RSS.