New Delhi
Prime Minister Modi on Tuesday said that India cannot run on two laws and that Uniform Civil Code (UCC) was part of the Constitution. While his pitch is in line with the BJP’s long-held agenda of ‘one nation, one code’, it has set the tone in the run-up to next year’s Lok Sabha elections.
“Today people are being instigated in the name of UCC. How can the country run on two (laws)? The Constitution also talks of equal rights. The Supreme Court has also asked to implement UCC. These (Opposition) people are playing vote bank politics,” the PM asserted while addressing BJP workers in Madhya Pradesh.
Predictably, while the PM’s statement evoked reactions from several quarters, the push for the UCC by the Government has been evident as the 22nd Law Commission on June 14 sought fresh suggestions from various stakeholders, including public and religious organisations, on the Code in a month.
Law Commission Chairman Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi on Wednesday said the panel has received 8.5 lakh responses within just two weeks of initiating a public consultation process on the matter.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said, “Why do you (BJP) always think from Hindu-Muslim point of view? In Chhattisgarh, we have tribal people. If UCC is implemented, what will happen to the tribal traditions and customs?”
“Our nation is like a beautiful bouquet with people believing in different religions, speaking different languages, following different cultures. We will have to see them as well,” he maintained.
The Congress has accused Modi of raising the UCC issue for political gains in view of impending elections in several states besides to divert attention from problems like inflation, unemployment, and the situation in Manipur.
Congress apart, as many as 30 tribal organisations have also expressed fear that the Uniform Civil Code will dilute the tribal customary laws and have decided to urge the Law Commission not to go ahead with it. They have given an open call for a protest on July 5 against the UCC.
“We organised a meeting of different social groups of the tribal community on Sunday. Several groups would come together under the umbrella of Adivasi Samanway Samiti,” Devkumar Dhan, convener of the Samiti and a former Minister in Jharkhand, said.
Dhan contended that if implemented, the UCC would abolish tribal customary laws and affect the special legislations and provisions such as Chotanagpur Tenancy (CNT) Act, Santhal Pargana Tenancy (SPT) Act, Wilkinson Rule, PESA law and even their marriages and divorces.
The UCC pitch resulted in rumbling in the northeast too. In Meghalaya, the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) passed an official resolution to urge the Centre to desist from implementing the UCC in all 6th Scheduled Areas with an aim to safeguard and protect the interests of the indigenous people of the State.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi slammed the Prime Minister saying, “India’s PM considers India’s diversity & its pluralism a problem. So, he says such things. Maybe India’s Prime Minister doesn’t understand Article 29. Will you strip the country of its pluralism & diversity in the name of UCC?”
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) met to discuss the draft document to be submitted to the Law Commission, according to AIMPLB member Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahli.
But implementation of the UCC and abrogation of Article 370 from Jammu & Kashmir have been part of BJP’s election manifestoes for long.
What is Uniform Civil Code?
Uniform Civil Code is aimed at replacing personal laws based on religions, customs, and traditions with one common law for everyone irrespective of religion, cast, creed, sexual orientation and gender.
Goa Lone Indian State With Such A Law
Goa Civil Code, in force since Portuguese times, is considered a Uniform Civil Code. Portugal enacted a Portuguese Civil Code in 1867 and it was extended to Portugal’s overseas provinces (that included Goa) in 1869.
Uttarakhand Makes The Move
On May 27, 2022, Uttarakhand government announced its decision to implement the UCC in the State and constituted a 5-member committee to prepare a draft proposal for its implementation. Committee is expected to submit its report in the next couple of days.
What Does Constitution & Supreme Court Say?
Article 44 of the Constitution, which is one of the Directive Principles of State Policy, advocates a UCC. The Supreme Court in various judgments has called for the implementation of the UCC.
