Assam state has recently abolished an 89-year-old law permitting underage Muslim marriages, a move met with resistance from minority leaders who argue it is a ploy to polarize voters along religious lines ahead of elections. The state, with the highest Muslim population in India at 34%, aims to establish uniform civil laws for various aspects, similar to Uttarakhand's recent implementation. The repealed law, Assam Muslim Marriages and Divorces Registration Act, 1935, was effective from Feb. 24, according to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. While some believe this is a significant step towards preventing child marriages, Muslim opposition leaders claim it is discriminatory and an attempt to provoke tensions among voters. Sarma has clarified that the implementation of a Uniform Civil Code in Assam is not immediate.