Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s recent announcement that a Bill to end polygamy in the state will be introduced in the legislative assembly either in the September or January 2024 session has been dubbed by opposition parties as diversionary and communal, especially at a time when suggestions on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) are being received by the Law Commission.

Sarma had recently said pending the decision on UCC, the government wants to take one of its segments, i.E. Polygamy, and ban it immediately.

According to the Family Health Survey (NFHS)-5 2019-21, only 1.4 per cent of the country’s Population practice polygamy and on the basis of religion, the Muslims account for only 1.9 per cent, the Christians 2.1 per cent and the Hindus 3.1 per cent.

Polygamy among the Scheduled Tribes is 2.4 per cent, Scheduled Castes 1.9 per cent, the OBCs 1.3 per cent and others 1.2 per cent, he pointed out.