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New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s strong pitch in favour of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) during a rally in Bhopal Tuesday sparked a mixed response from Opposition parties. While some, like the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), backed the idea of a UCC, others termed it an attempt by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to “polarise the electorate” ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, without clearly stating their position on UCC and its implementation.
A UCC, which aims to replace personal laws which find their basis in religion with a common set of laws for all citizens, has been one of the BJP’s long-standing promises, along with the abrogation of Article 370 and the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya.
With the Ram temple under construction and Article 370 abrogated, the BJP is now expected to intensify its campaign for UCC in the run-up to the general election next year.
Making a pitch in favour of a Uniform Civil Code, Modi said, “You tell me, in a home, how can there be one law for one member and another law for the other member?”
“Will that home be able to function? Then how will the country be able to function with such a dual system? We have to remember that even in India’s Constitution, there is a mention of equal rights for all,” he added.
Targeting the Opposition over its ‘failure to do anything’ for the Muslim community, Modi said, “These people (Opposition) level allegations against us, but the reality is that they chant Musalman, Musalman. Had they really been (working) in the interests of Muslims, then Muslim families would not have been lagging in education and jobs,” he remarked.
Modi’s remark sparked a political stir, eliciting sharp reactions from Opposition leaders.
Former Union home minister and senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram countered Modi’s remark and said that the UCC was an aspiration that could not be imposed by a “majoritarian government”.
“Even in a family, there is diversity. The Constitution of India recognised diversity and plurality among the people of India. A UCC is an aspiration. It cannot be forced on the people by an agenda-driven majoritarian government,” Chidambaram said in a tweet.
He added that “the nation is divided today” and a UCC will only widen that divide. Calling the UCC an attempt to “polarise the electorate”, he said. Adding, “The Hon’ble PM’s strong pitch for the UCC is intended to divert attention from inflation, unemployment, hate crimes, discrimination and denying states’ rights. The people must be vigilant.”
The same day the Prime Minister made these remarks, another Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said a UCC might “generate resistance”.
As for political experts, they believe that the BJP would want exactly that. “There is a lot of politics going on and that is exactly BJP’s game plan,” said columnist and political analyst Rasheed Kidwai.
Others highlighted that, because a lot is unclear about the UCC, the Opposition’s demand for a detailed discussion would be the “safest way” to proceed on this matter. Sanjay Kumar, professor and co-director of Lokniti, a research programme at the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), said parties opposing the proposal of UCC would be seen by many as “proxies for appeasement of the minorities, especially the Muslims”.
Also Read: UCC is Modi’s nuclear button—split Indian politics between Hindu-lovers, Muslim-appeasers
Law commission notice reignites debate
The debate around UCC was re-ignited on 14 June when the 22nd Law Commission sought views and ideas of the “public at large and recognised religious organisations” on the code.
“Those who are interested and willing may present their views within a period of 30 days from the date of notice….”, read the notification.
While acknowledging the previous law commission’s consultation paper, the notice said the panel considered it “expedient to deliberate afresh over the subject” since it had been three years to the said paper, “bearing in mind the relevance and importance of the subject and also the various court orders on the subject”.
At the time, Congress called this bid to re-examine the UCC “Modi government’s desperation for a legitimate justification of its continuing agenda of polarisation and diversion from its glaring failures”.
Distraction for 2024 polls?
But most Opposition parties have not clearly stated their stand on the UCC, dismissing it as a mere political plank. The Janata Dal (United), for instance, called it a “political stunt”.
“Any party, if they want to oppose on whatever principles, it would be seen among common people that this is the party that supports the cause of minorities, ‘so this is a Muslim party’. The parties are very cautious. They don’t want to send out a message to the majority community that we are supporting UCC,” Sanjay Kumar told ThePrint.
Echoing Kumar, Kidwai said that UCC is a very complex issue and most political parties did not have enough comprehension and understanding of it.
“The problem with political parties is they do not know the entire dynamics of it and they do not have the qualified people. UCC is largely misunderstood, therefore, the BJP will use it as a ploy to corner the Opposition about being pro-Muslim, etc.,” said Kidwai.
Meanwhile, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), known for its atheist stand, has also spoken against the BJP’s pitch for a Uniform Civil Code.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin in an address Thursday said the Prime Minister was thinking of winning the 2024 Lok Sabha polls by fanning communal sentiments and creating confusion in the country. “I am telling you categorically, people are ready to teach a fitting lesson to the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls,” Stalin added.
Like Stalin, Jharkhand Chief Minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Hemant Soren also dismissed UCC as a distraction. When asked about Modi’s comments in the Bhopal rally, Soren Wednesday said, “Ask him how he would give employment first, how he would bring down inflation. Speak on that first.”
Also Read: Raising marriageable age for women, ban on polygamy — what’s in Uttarakhand’s draft UCC
‘Not in the interests of minorities’
While many parties have raised questions about the objective of implementing UCC, there are also those who have out rightly opposed the concept , due to its alleged “ill impact” on minorities.
National Conference (NC) leader and former chief minister of Jammu & Kashmir Farooq Abdullah, told reporters in Srinagar Thursday, “Think. Rethink” on the UCC.
Saying that India is a diverse country with diverse religions and thoughts, Farooq added, “Muslims have their own Sharia law, they should look at that as well. Before moving ahead, they should think again and again. This should not lead to any storm.”
Sharia is the fundamental religious concept of Islam, derived from teachings in the Quran and the Sunnah and Hadith — deeds and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad.
Meanwhile, the strongest attack on UCC came from All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen’s Asaduddin Owaisi who alleged that UCC is being brought in to target Muslims and to bring in a “Hindu Civil Code”.
“… he (Modi) is not talking about Uniform Civil Code. He is talking about Hindu Civil Code. (They) will treat all Islamic references of practices as illegal and the Prime Minister will protect Hindu practices under the law,” Owaisi said in Hyderabad Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) was also of the “firm view” that implementation of UCC is not in the interests of the minorities and that the Modi government should “shelve” the idea of implementing it. The 21st Law Commission already opined in its consultation report that UCC is neither desirable nor feasible, said former SAD minister Daljit S. Cheema. “When your law commission is saying that it is not feasible. It’ll create unrest in the country. Peace will be affected. Then why are you forcing this?” Cheema added.
Why does AAP support UCC?
The Aam Aadmi Party has taken a clear stand in support of the Uniform Civil Code on the basis of “principles”.
“In principle, We support it (UCC). Article 44 also says that there should be UCC in the country. But because this issue is related to all religious communities, we want wider consultations and talks should be held at large scale,” said AAP’s national general secretary Sandeep Pathak.
Calling for a consensus, he added, “In such a fundamental issue, an authoritarian way wouldn’t be right. After speaking to everyone, consensus should be built.”
However, AAP’s stand has drawn flak from some corners of the Opposition as well. Pawan Khera of the Congress said AAP’s stand was surprising, considering that a draft proposal was not out yet. “The statement of AAP leader Sandeep Pathak on UCC has exposed the real face of Arvind Kejriwal,“ tweeted SAD’s Cheema.
Not just AAP, former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray also welcomed UCC but expressed his concerns about its impact on Hindus.
Addressing Shiv Sena (UBT) office-bearers last week, he asked, “We welcome the Uniform Civil Code for all but would it adversely affect Hindus? If they (BJP) could not implement the ban on cow slaughter in the entire country, how can the UCC be implemented?”
Explaining AAP’s stand, professor Kumar said, “They know what has happened to most political parties that are seen as championing the cause of minorities and how difficult they are finding to overcome the tag. Whether it is Samajwadi Party or Congress or any other political party.”
According to him, AAP could afford to take a stand because they have a big stake in Punjab.
“Punjab has no Muslim population, it is fine with them. Delhi has some Muslim population, but they know that even if the Muslims do not vote for them, they still have such a huge mandate in Delhi, if you go by the state assembly elections,” Kumar explained.
But for Kidwai, AAP was behaving in a “very reckless manner”.
“Having won Delhi and extended their reach in Punjab, they really do not know what to do with themselves. Now, they have one MP in Lok Sabha. But their aspiration is absolutely different compared to their strength”, he said.
“Their stand on UCC may be like this because they know that the Delhi voter is not going to look at the complexities of UCC. Maybe, they think they’ll stand a chance this way. But the beneficiary — if UCC clicks with the majority community — will be the BJP and not AAP,” Kidwai added.
(Edited by Richa Mishra)
Also Read: Will Hindutva be enough for Modi-BJP as crises pile on before 2024? It better be
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