Lawmakers in a small Indian state ruled by the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party have approved landmark legislation unifying civil status laws between religions. The adoption of this law by the state of Uttar Kand makes it the first state in the country since its independence from Britain in 1947 to adopt and implement a unified civil code.
Currently, Hindus, Muslims, Christians and other minorities in India follow group-specific personal laws and customs for marriage, divorce, adoption and inheritance. Muslims accuse Modi's far-right nationalist party of following a list of Hindu priorities biased against them and imposing laws that conflict with their Islamic faith.