New Delhi, Jun 28 (PTI) The Janata Dal (United) on Wednesday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s push for a Uniform Civil Code as a “political stunt” ahead of the Lok Sabha elections next year and claimed that his statement had nothing to do with the welfare of minorities.
Its spokesperson K C Tyagi noted that Article 44 of the Constitution states that the state shall endeavour to provide for all its citizens UCC but added this clause is a part of the Directive Principles of state policy and not a fundamental right.
He said, “While the state must endeavour to bring in the UCC, for such an effort to be enduring and sustainable it must be based on a broad consensus in favour of such a move rather than be imposed by fiat from above.” He claimed the prime minister’s push for UCC was a “political stunt” with an eye on the Lok Sabha elections next year and not aimed at the welfare of minorities.
Tyagi said it is important to always remember that ours is a nation based on a delicate balance in respect of laws and governing principles for different religions and ethnic groups.
Any attempt, therefore, to impose a UCC without substantive consultations, concurrence of various religious groups, especially the minorities, could lead to social friction and an erosion of faith in the constitutional guarantee of freedom of religion, he said.
“It is our view that such in-depth consultations have not yet taken place with various religious groups. In the absence of such a process, any attempt at premature or hasty tampering with long-standing religious practices that deal with complex issues of marriage, divorce, adoption, inheritance and the right to property and succession would be clearly inadvisable,” he said.
The enforcement of a UCC would require all current laws applicable in such matters in respect of Hindus (including Buddhists, Sikhs and Jains), Muslims, Christians and Parsis to be scrapped and such a drastic step can hardly be taken without substantive consultations with all stakeholders, including state governments, he said. PTI KR SMN
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