New Delhi : The Modi government’s Uniform Civil Code - with aim to reap gains in upcoming Lok Sabha elections via religious polarisation - is witnessing widespread criticism from Opposition Parties as well as religious organisations across the country. The Muslim Personal Law Board clarified it will fight tooth and nail to prevent the move.
The Left parties and other Opposition Parties - Congress and DMK - too came forward against the Centre’s unilateral move. Tribal organisations in Meghalaya and Jharkhand announced early on, they will resist the Code.
The Muslim Personal Law Board held emergency meeting in Bhopal on Tuesday soon as Modi announced the country was in need of Uniform Civil Code. The meeting formulated a draft for submission to the Law Commission in this regard.
Board member Maulana Khalid Rashid Rehmani said he will present a stronger dissent before the Law Commission.Incidentally, apart from Muslims, other communities like Hindus, Sidkhs, Jains, Parsis etc are all opposing it for their separate reasons. India is a country that has language changing every 100 km. Each community has their own form of prayer and rituals. Ceremonies like marriage too are varied. The Constitution guarantees Freedom of Religion, saod Rehmani.
The CPI(M) Polit Bureau recently released statement saying there was no need presently for a uniform civil code. Rather, equal rights that must be enabled through reforms in personal laws, the PB said.
AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal said that Uniform Civil Code was Prime Minister’s way of deflecting attention from public issues like inflation and unemployment.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin reacted saying the Uniform Civil Code should first be implemented in the Hindu community. The Tribal Council of Meghalaya passed resolution against the Code last week, A coalition of 30 tribal organisations in Jharkhand announced protest.
