The All-India Muslim Personal Law Board on Saturday said that the concept of uniform civil code was a threat to the diversity of India, saying it was an “anti-national” idea.

The AIMPLB issued a statement after its working committee meeting held here on Saturday to discuss various issues, including surrendering the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land to the Hindu side.

AIMPLB chairman Maulana Rabey Hasan Nadvi said India was inhabited by multi-cultural and multi-religious people and each group had the constitutional right to maintain its identity.

He said the very concept of uniform civil code was a threat to the diversity of India and it was the duty of the AIMPLB to oppose it through democratic and peaceful means.

Maulana  Nadvi termed the idea of uniform civil code as ‘anti-national’ and said it would not only affect the minorities but also the social rights of the tribals and other religious minorities.

On the recent statement by a group of Muslim intellectuals suggesting that disputed Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land in Ayodhya be handed over to the Hindu side, Maulana  Nadvi said, “The AIMPLB reiterates the basic stand of the Muslim community that the status of the land dedicated for the mosque cannot be altered or transferred as the Sharia law forbids it. No Muslim can surrender or transfer waqf  land.”

He said the submission of the Muslims was based on historical facts and evidences   that Babri mosque was constructed without demolishing any temple or any other place of worship.

The AIMPLB also made it clear that the Ayodhya dispute case was in its final stage and there was no possibility of any mediation or reconciliation.

Maulana Nadvi said the AIMPLB was confident that the Supreme Court bench hearing the title suit of the 2.77-acre disputed Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land would pronounce its judgement in favour of Muslims.

In the meeting, the AIMPLB members were briefed about the legal proceedings so far in the Ayodhya case.

“The committee members expressed satisfaction over the strong legal points made by senior counsel representing the Muslim side in the court. The Muslim side has strong arguments and we are hopeful that the apex court judgement will be in our favour,”  said a statement issued by the AIMPLB.

On the anti-triple talaq law, Maulana Nadvi said, the members felt that the new law would prove to be harmful not only for the husband, but also for the future of the wife and children.

“Whether the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act 2019 can be challenged in a court of law would be decided by the AIMPLB legal committee,” he said.

The AIMPLB observed that far from protecting the rights of Muslim women and children in marriage, the Act  would completely destroy the marriage and render the Muslim women destitute.

A group of Muslim intellectuals on October 10 had suggested an out-of-court settlement of the vexed Ayodhya issue, stressing that it would help establish peace in the country if Muslims hand over the disputed land to the Central government as a “goodwill gesture”.