NCP MLA Sana Malik Sparks Row Demanding Islamic Law in India

A massive uproar erupted in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly following a shocking statement by NCP MLA Sana Malik, belonging to the Ajit Pawar faction, while during the session, Sana Malik demanded that India should implement Islamic laws based on the Quran, similar to the legal system in Pakistan. Her remarks, which touched upon sensitive issues like the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), triple talaq, and polygamy, have sparked a heated political debate across the state and the country.

Demand for Islamic Law and Quran-Based Governance

While addressing the assembly, Sana Malik explicitly mentioned that India should adopt Islamic laws just as they're implemented in Pakistan. She stated that the demand for such laws is being raised by them, while her arguments were centered around the Muslim Personal Law and the teachings of the Quran. She emphasized that the legal framework for the Muslim community in India should be aligned with their religious scriptures. This statement immediately drew criticism from various quarters, as it was seen as a direct challenge to the secular fabric of the Indian Constitution and the proposed Uniform Civil Code.

Support for Triple Talaq and Polygamy

Sana Malik also voiced her strong support for the practice of triple talaq, which has been a subject of significant legal and social reform in India. She explained that there are different methods of divorce within the religion, specifically mentioning Talaq-e-Hasan, Talaq-e-Ahsan, and Talaq-e-Biddat. She argued that the law enacted against triple talaq was based on a system that wasn't widely prevalent in practice and claimed it lacked proper mention. On top of that, she addressed the issue of polygamy, stating that the practice of having more than one wife isn't limited to just one religion but is occurring across various faiths. She asserted that the method of polygamy taught in Islam should be followed and suggested that a specific law should be brought to regulate it accordingly.

Clarification via Social Media and Government Response

Following the controversy in the house, Sana Malik posted a video on her X (formerly Twitter) account to clarify her stance. She wrote that she presented her views during a calling attention motion regarding the implementation of the Triple Talaq Act in the assembly. She reiterated that since the practice of multiple marriages exists in many religions, any law being implemented must be based on the Constitution. She stated that she expressed her opinion that no law should hurt the sentiments of any religion, while according to her post, Minister of State for Home Yogesh Kadam gave a positive response to her query, stating that once a law is implemented, it will be applicable to all religions uniformly.

Nitesh Rane Delivers a Sharp Rebuttal

The statements made by the NCP MLA didn't go down well with the BJP leadership. BJP MLA and Minister Nitesh Rane launched a scathing attack on Sana Malik, questioning her allegiance to the Constitution. Rane pointed out that the Central Government has already taken a decisive step regarding triple talaq. He expressed his dismay that some individuals sitting in the Legislative Assembly are still citing the Quran and Muslim scriptures to oppose the Uniform Civil Code. Rane emphasized that while the UCC is mentioned in the Constitution, some people only refer to the Constitution when they need to justify their illegal actions, while he concluded with a stern remark, stating that if anyone doesn't wish to follow the laws and the Constitution of India, they should resign from their post and move to Pakistan.

ट्रिपल तलाक कायदा लागू करण्यासंबंधी आज विधानसभेत उपस्थित केलेल्या लक्षवेधी दरम्यान माझी भूमिका मांडली. बहुपत्नित्वाची प्रथा अनेक धर्मात सुरू आहे. त्यामुळे कोणताही कायदा लागू होताना तो संविधानाच्या आधारावर असायला हवा. कोणत्याही एका धर्माविरोधातील सूर त्यातून उमटायला नको, असे मत… pic.twitter.com/nWlqFUBihV

— Sana Malik-Shaikh ثنا ملک-شیخ सना मलिक-शेख (@sanamalikshaikh) June 23, 2026