India, May 14 -- The Himanta Biswa Sarma led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Assam, in its first cabinet meeting after returning to power, approved implementation of the uniform civil code (UCC) in the state.

Sarma said that a legislation in this regard would be tabled in the assembly on May 26, the last day of the first session of the new assembly. "All tribal people in Assam, both residing in hills and plains, will be kept outside the purview of UCC. All religious rituals, customs and traditions will also be out of its ambit," he added.

Assam has a tribal population of 12.45%. It also has a Muslim population of 34.22% according to 2011 census, and will be the first state with a significant Muslim population to push for UCC....