New Delhi: Opposition parties have criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s invocation of a range of subjects purportedly meant to invoke communal sentiments, especially the Uniform Civil Code.On June 27, in his first public meeting after returning from the US, where there was significant clamour for President Joe Biden to bring up the rights of minorities under Modi, the prime minister brought up ‘triple talaq’, the Uniform Civil Code, discrimination against Pasmanda Muslims, and the opposition’s ‘unity meet’ in Patna.Modi was speaking in Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, which will go to polls in November this year.The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) led by Tamil Nadu chief minister M.K. Stalin, said that the Uniform Civil Code – a longstanding promise of the Bharatiya Janata Party – should be applied to those following the Hindu religion first.“Uniform Civil Code should be first introduced in the Hindu religion. Every person including [those belonging to the] Scheduled Castes and Tribes should be allowed to perform pooja in any temple in the country. We don’t want UCC only because the Constitution has given protection to every religion,” DMK’s T.K.S. Elangovan said, according to NDTV.In an analysis for The Wire, lawyer Sarim Naved had said that while in popular imagination the UCC will do away with personal laws. and while votaries of the UCC within the BJP posit it as a necessary step towards gender equality it would be “effective if, and only if, it is truly a new civil code and not just a mere declaration of rights.”Modi claimed that the opposition parties were attempting to “mislead” voters on the UCC issue.“Will a family function if there are two different sets of rules for people? Then how will a country run? Our constitution too guarantees equal rights to all people,” he said, according to India Today.Congress leader P. Chidambaram said in response that this was not a justified comparison.The Hon'ble PM has equated a Nation to a Family while pitching for the Uniform Civil Code (UCC)While in an abstract sense his comparison may appear true, the reality is very differentA family is knit together by blood relationships. A nation is brought together by a…— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) June 28, 2023“A family is knit together by blood relationships. A nation is brought together by a Constitution which is a political-legal document 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,” he said.Chidambaram also said that Modi’s “strong pitch for the UCC is intended to divert attention from inflation, unemployment, hate crimes, discrimination and denying states’ rights.”Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal also repeated this point, noting that Modi’s comments were meant to “distract people.”“You are not even talking about Manipur and for the last 60 days it has been burning,” Venugopal told ANI.#WATCH | "He (PM) should first answer about poverty, price rise and unemployment in the country. He never speaks on Manipur issue, the whole state is burning. He is just distracting people from all these issues," says Congress general secretary KC Venugopal on PM Modi's statement… pic.twitter.com/mJx4RiH4sg— ANI (@ANI) June 27, 2023All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi said the move will strip the country of its pluralism and diversity.#WATCH | AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi speaks on PM Modi's statement on Uniform Civil Code in Bhopal; says, "India's PM considers India's diversity & its pluralism a problem. So, he says such things…Will you strip the country of its pluralism & diversity in the name of a UCC?…… pic.twitter.com/XeBhdBDycD— ANI (@ANI) June 27, 2023 The 21st Law Commission of India in August 2018 had made it clear that a UCC “is neither necessary nor desirable at this stage.” However, earlier this month, the 22nd Law Commission issued a fresh notification to elicit views from various stakeholders – including public and religious organisations – on the matter.
