All sections of the country have faith in the Constitution and will not allow it to be changed, says Congress leader Arif Masood in reaction to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statements regarding a Uniform Civil Code (UCC). Masood reminded the PM that he had taken an oath on the Constitution, which was drafted by Dr BR Ambedkar. Modi had earlier said that the country could not be run with two laws when the Constitution of India talks about equality for all. He questioned the idea of different rules for different family members and emphasized that the Constitution guarantees equal rights for all people. However, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi claimed that Modi considers India’s diversity and its pluralism a problem.
The Uniform Civil Code is an Indian proposal to formulate and implement personal laws of citizens that apply to all citizens equally, regardless of their religion, sex, gender, and sexual orientation. Currently, personal laws of various communities are governed by their religious scriptures. The Law Commission of India had solicited the views and ideas of the public and re-recognized religious organizations to examine the Uniform Civil Code on June 14. The Law Commission has given 30 days to the respondents to present their views.
While addressing party workers under the BJP’s Mera Booth Sabse Majboot campaign in Bhopal, PM Modi campaigned for the UCC and argued that differences should not impede the functioning of a united family, much less a united country. He called on the need for a law to be passed on Triple Talaq but questioned the effectiveness of the legislation, asking what relief women had received from it.
The Uniform Civil Code seeks to create a set of standardized laws governing marriage, divorce, succession, and adoption across all religions, but critics argue that the law is an attack on religious freedom. Despite the deep divisions within the country, the debate on a Uniform Civil Code has emerged as a crucial constitutional issue.
