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Opposition, Centre continue to lock horns over UCC
Opposition leaders in India have criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi's push for a uniform civil code, warning of potential law-and-order issues if customary laws are replaced by a common law. Modi argues that equal citizens should be governed by equal laws. The uniform civil code is a divisive issue, particularly among Muslim communities who fear it will erase their unique practices. The Law Commission of India is currently examining the issue and seeking suggestions from individuals and civil society organizations.
New Delhi: Top Opposition leaders on Thursday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his push for the uniform civil code (UCC), warning that there could be law-and-order issues if customary laws were subsumed under a common law, even as senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders dismissed the criticism.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar said the central government should give reservation to women and said the stance of the Sikh, Jain and Christian communities should be cleared. Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin denounced the PM, saying the BJP wanted to disturb law-and-order in the country.
But Union aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said enactment of UCC will be made possible with the help of everyone and said citizens had to decide between those who followed the policy of tushtikaran (appeasement) and those who stand for santushtikaran (satisfaction) – terms first used by the PM in his speech two days ago.
“When every citizen of the country is equal, then policies and laws governing them should also be equal,” the minister said in Madhya Pradesh.
Modi spoke to BJP booth workers at an event on Tuesday and made a strong case for UCC, a divisive issue that is part of the directive principles of state policy of the Constitution but is considered politically controversial. “These days, people are being provoked by the UCC. You tell me, if there is one law for one person in a home, and another law for another person, can that house function?” Modi asked. As the crowd roared in denial, Modi said, “Then how can a country work with such a hypocritical system? We have to remember that even the Constitution of India talks of common rights.”
The comments came roughly two weeks after the Law Commission of India announced it was examining the fractious issue and asked for suggestions from individuals and civil society organisations.
The debate around UCC is decades old. But it is also seen as deeply divisive, especially among many Muslim communities who fear that a common code might wipe out their unique practices. Some tribal groups have also threatened to protest if UCC is implemented, expressing concern that a common law governing marriage, divorce, inheritance and maintenance, among other issues, might infringe on their unique customs and rituals.
Speaking in Pune, Pawar said his party will decide its stand after the government clarified certain things. “Recently, PM Modi spoke about UCC. Our view is that the central government has given this issue to the Law Commission and it has sought proposals from various organisations…Law Commissions, like responsible institutions, should study and work on the proposal/suggestion,” Pawar added.
“The second thing is that the stand of Sikh, Jain and Christian communities should be cleared. I am worried about one thing, I heard that the Sikh community has a different stand,” he added.
In Chennai, Stalin criticised Modi. “They want to disturb law and order, create communal clashes in the country,” Stalin said. “Modi is saying that there cannot be two different laws in the country. He believes that he will win again by increasing communal issues and creating confusion in the country. I am sure the people are ready to teach a lesson to the BJP in the upcoming parliamentary elections,” he added.
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah also opposed UCC, saying there could be a backlash. “Our country is diverse and so, they should rethink the implementation of UCC. People of different religions live here. Muslims have their own Shairat law and if they (Union government) implement UCC, there could be backlash or possible storm,” he said after Eid prayers.
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) – which has opposed UCC – asked Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann to clarify his stand. Mann’s Aam Aadmi Party has extended “in principle” support to a common code.
Union minister of state Ashwini Kumar Choubey expressed hope that the government will bring UCC at the earliest. “UCC will satisfy all sections of the society since all want to live together in peace and make progress,” he said.
(with agency inputs)
