PM Modi makes strong push for Uniform Civil Code, asks How can India function with dual system of laws?

PTI, Jun 27, 2023, 8:25 PM IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday made a strong push for a Uniform Civil Code(UCC), asking how can the country function with dual laws that govern personal matters, and accused the Opposition of using the UCC issue to ”mislead and provoke” the Muslim community.

Addressing BJP workers in Bhopal in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, Modi also launched a stinging attack on the Opposition parties, contending they can only ”guarantee” corruption, and accused them of being involved in scams worth “at least Rs 20 lakh crore”. He also termed the mega conclave of Opposition parties in Patna last Friday to stitch an anti-BJP alliance for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls as a mere ”photo-op”.

The prime minister further said that those supporting ‘triple talaq’ were doing a grave injustice to Muslim daughters and that Pasmanda Muslims, who are backward, are not even treated as equals because of the vote bank politics.

Modi asserted that the BJP has decided it would not adopt the path of appeasement and vote bank politics, adding that the policy of appeasement practised by some is ”disastrous” for the country.

“You tell me, in a home, how can there be one law for one member and another law for another member?” Modi said interacting with BJP workers at a function organised under the party’s ‘Mera Booth Sabse Majboot’ campaign, virtually sounding the poll bugle. Assembly polls in MP are due by the year-end.

“Will that home be able to function? Then how will the country be able to function with such a dual (legal) system? We have to remember that even in India’s Constitution, there is a mention of equal rights for all.” Even the Supreme Court has advocated for a UCC, which will override personal laws of different religions, but those practising vote bank politics are opposing it, Modi said batting for the UCC with less than a year left for the Lok Sabha polls.

The UCC has been one of the three key poll planks of the BJP for a long time with the other being the abrogation of Article 370 that had given special status to Jammu and Kashmir and construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

UCC refers to a common set of laws that are applicable to all the citizens of India that is not based on religion and dealing with marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption among other personal matters.

The Law Commission had on June 14 initiated a fresh consultation process on UCC by seeking views from stakeholders, including public and recognised religious organisations, on the politically sensitive issue.

Opposition parties including the Congress hit out at Modi for raising issues like UCC only to divert attention from the real issues of unemployment, price rise and Manipur violence and urged him not to make such matters an instrument of ‘dog-whistle politics’.

”These are all diversionary issues. He wants to run away from the real issues of the country, that is why they are only trying to divert the issues,” Congress general secretary, organisation, K C Venugopal said.

While AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi asked whether the country’s pluralism and diversity would be ”snatched away” in the name of UCC, RJD leader Manoj Jha said the prime minister should not make issues like UCC an instrument of ”dog-whistle politics”.

A key aide of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar claimed that Modi’s speech betrayed “worry” in the BJP camp following the “supreme success” of the recent opposition conclave.

Bihar minister and senior JD(U) leader Vijay Kumar Chaudhary also alleged that Modi was aiming at communal polarisation by touching upon the UCC.

The BJP hit out at the opposition for criticizing the PM’s stand on UCC, saying such a code has been provided for in the Constitution as directive principles of state policy and that the Supreme Court has also endorsed the provision in its various judgements.

Union Minister Bhupender Yadav slammed the opposition parties over their accusation that BJP is trying to create a division among Muslims by wooing Pasmanda community, saying they should be “ashamed” of not doing anything for those belonging to “exploited deprived and oppressed” sections of the society.

In his speech, Modi said those who do vote bank politics have ruined Pasmanda Muslims. ”They have not got any benefit. They do not get equal rights. They are considered untouchables.” ‘Pasmanda’ is a term used for backward classes among Muslims.

He said in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, South India, especially in Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu, and a number of other states, many castes were left behind from development because of the policy of appeasement.

“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.” The prime minister further said those supporting triple talaq were doing grave injustice to Muslim daughters.

Triple talaq was abolished in Egypt 80-90 years ago. If it is necessary, then why has it been abolished in Pakistan, Qatar and other Muslim-dominated nations, he said.

“Triple talaq doesn’t just do injustice to daughters…entire families get ruined. If triple talaq is an essential part of Islam, then why was it banned in countries like Qatar, Jordan, Indonesia?” Modi asked.

Modi said the BJP follows the path of ”santushtikaran” (satisfaction), instead of ”tushtikaran” (appeasement).

”The BJP has decided it won’t adopt the path of appeasement and vote bank” and instead work with the motto of ”Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas.” ”If you want the welfare of your sons, daughters and grandchildren, then vote for the BJP and not any family-oriented parties,” he said.

Exuding confidence about retaining power at the Centre, Modi said, ”People have made up their mind to bring the BJP to power again in 2024.” He said these days a new word is gaining currency and that is ”guarantee”. ”It is a big responsibility of BJP workers to tell the people that the Opposition is a ”guarantee of scams.” The PM said he is giving the ”guarantee” that his government will take action against those involved in ”scams” and corruption.

“Nowadays a new word is being made very popular – guarantee. All these Opposition parties are a guarantee of corruption, they are a guarantee of scams worth lakhs of crores,” he maintained.

Amid efforts by the Opposition parties to come together to take on the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections, Modi said, ”We should not have a feeling of anger, but compassion towards those who are uniting against the BJP.” Referring to the Opposition’s unity huddle in Patna, the prime minister said, ”If you see the history of parties which participated in the meeting, all those seen in that photo are the guarantee of Rs 20 lakh crore worth of scams. The scams of the Congress alone are worth lakhs of crores,” Modi said, linking the grand old party to coal, 2G, commonwealth and other scams.