Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma's Hindutva politics and anti-Muslim stance: Five big controversies

The Himanta Biswa Sarma-led BJP government in Assam has sparked yet another political row by the Muslim marriage and divorce registration legislation.

The move is considered the first step taken towards , a controversial legal framework aimed at standardising personal laws across all communities in the country.

Sarma, 55, said that the 'Assam Muslim Marriages and Divorces Registration Act, 1935 contains provisions allowing marriage registration even if the bride and groom had not reached the legal age of 18 and 21 as per the law. He also said that this decision taken by his cabinet signaled a significant advancement in the efforts to prohibit in Assam.

The current law provides the facility of voluntary registration of Muslim marriages and divorces besides authorising the government to provide licenses to Muslims to register such marriages and divorces. Once the law is repealed,  such people won't be able to register marriages and divorces.

District commissioners and district registrars will take custody of registration records held by 94 Marriage Registrars or Qazis.

The decision has already elicited reactions. Guwahati-based advocate Aman Wadud said that repealing the act would only increase child marriages as against the government's claim that it will eradicate them. 

"Authorised Registrars under the 1935 Act won't be able to register Muslim marriages now. The registration will now happen under the . I am not sure how many Muslims can afford it. The government believes that this will completely eradicate child marriages. But, this will only increase the number of unauthorised Qazis and child marriages," said Wadud who is also a member of the party.

At about one crore, Muslims make up 34 per cent of Assam's 3.12 crore