Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav of the Allahabad High Court ignited a major controversy on Sunday by attending an event organised by the legal cell of right-wing organisation Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP)..The judge made contentious statements against the Muslim community and stated that India will function as per the wishes of the majority community.In his speech, he said that the welfare and happiness of the majority overrides those of others."I have no hesitation in stating that this is Hindustan, and this country will function according to the wishes of the majority living here. This is the law. It is not about speaking as a High Court Judge; rather, the law operates in accordance with the bahusankyak (majority). Consider this in the context of a family or society - only what ensures the welfare and happiness of the majority will be accepted," Justice Yadav said..The judge made a slew of controversial statements, including using the term "kathmullah", a slur against Muslims commonly used on WhatsApp and other social media platforms.Referring to extremists as "kathmullah", he said that the country should be circumspect about them."Lekin yeh jo kathmullah hai jo…yeh sahi shabd nahi hai…lekin kehne mein gurez nahi hai kyunki woh desh ke liye bura hai…desh ke liye ghatak hai, khilaaf hai, janta ko bhadhkane wale log hai…desh aage na badhe is prakar ke log hai…unse saavdhaan rehne ki zaroorat hai (But these kathmullah... this may not be the right word... but I won't hesitate to say it because they are harmful to the country...they are detrimental, against the nation, and people who incite the public. They are the kind of people who do not want the country to progress, and we need to be cautious of them)," he stated.He remarked that children in one community are taught the values of kindness and non-violence, and its people are raised to be tolerant. However, in another community, it would be difficult to expect tolerance from children, especially when they witness the slaughter of animals in front of them, he added.“In our country, we are taught from a young age to respect all living beings, even the smallest animals, and to avoid harming them. This lesson becomes a part of who we are, which is perhaps why we are more tolerant and compassionate, feeling pain when others suffer. But this isn't the case for everyone. In our culture, children are raised with guidance towards God, taught Vedic mantras, and instilled with the values of non-violence. However, in some other cultures, children grow up witnessing the slaughter of animals, which makes it difficult to expect them to develop tolerance and compassion.”.Justice Yadav was speaking on the topic, Uniform Civil Code: A Constitutional Necessity. He also spoke on topics such as the Waqf Board Act and religious conversion..On the Uniform Civil Code, he stated that while women are revered as goddesses in Hindu scriptures like the shastras and vedas, members of a particular community (Muslims) still claim the right to have multiple wives, engage in Halala, or practice Triple Talaq."You can't disrespect a woman who has been recognised as a goddess in our shastras and vedas. You can't claim the right to have four wives, perform halala, or practice triple talaq. You say, we have the right to say 'triple talaq,' and not give maintenance to women. This right will not work. UCC isn't something that VHP, RSS, or Hinduism advocates. The country's top court also talks about it...This is the historic library hall of the court, where so many great personalities have been...""I vow that this country will surely enact a uniform law, and it will happen very soon," he added..He went on to remark,"Where the cow, the Gita and the Ganga define the culture, where every home has an idol of Harbala Devi, and every child is Ram - such is my country."He also mentioned that being a Hindu is not limited to those who bathe in the Ganga or apply chandan (sandalwood). According to him, anyone who views this land as their mother and is ready to sacrifice their life for the nation during a crisis, irrespective of their religious beliefs - whether they follow the Quran or the Bible - is a Hindu..However, he added that when it comes to social issues within the Muslim community, such as halala, triple talaq and adoption-related concerns, he found no courage or initiative from the community to address them."It is not necessary for Muslims to marry by taking seven rounds around the fire, bathe in the Ganga, or apply chandan but they should respect the culture, great personalities, and deities of this land," Justice Yadav remarked..He emphasised that having four wives is unacceptable and further stated that no one has the right to practice halala, pronounce triple talaq, or deny maintenance to their wives.“If you claim that our personal law permits such practices, it will not be accepted. A woman will receive maintenance, bigamy will not be allowed, and a man will have only one wife, not four. If one woman receives maintenance while another does not, it leads to discrimination, which is against the Constitution.”.Justice Shekhar also spoke about the Ayodhya judgment of the Supreme Court. He remarked that many of our ancestors made great sacrifices to see Ram Lalla liberated and to witness the construction of a magnificent Ram Temple in Ayodhya."Could you have ever imagined seeing the Ram Mandir with your own eyes? Many of our ancestors made sacrifices with the hope of seeing Ram Lalla freed and witnessing the grand temple's construction. Although they couldn't live to see it, they played their part, and now, we are witnessing it ourselves," he highlighted..He ended his lecture by saying that while Hindus are known for their non-violence and kindness, it should not be mistaken for cowardice. He stressed the importance of teaching children that the country, our religious practices, and our revered personalities should always come first."Whether you are an advocate, a businessman, or a student, your identity as a Hindu comes first. Anyone who considers this land their mother and themselves as its child is a Hindu. Vivekananda also believed that only a Hindu has the potential to make this country a global leader, and no one else can do so. Never let this aspiration fade."
