Controversy over Uniform Civil Code

Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly advocated for Uniform Civil Code and put the opponents in the dock and asked whether dual How will the country run with the system. Modi said that the BJP has decided that instead of appeasement and vote bank politics, it will run on the politics of ‘satisfaction’. Modi said the opposition was using the issue of the Uniform Civil Code to mislead and incite the Muslim community. Indian Muslims have to understand which political parties are destroying them to take advantage of them by provoking them. If there is one law for one member of the family in a house and another for another, then will that family be able to run. Then how will the country be able to run with such a dual system? We have to remember that the Constitution of India also talks about equal rights of citizens. Modi said, ‘These people (opposition) accuse us but the fact is that they do Muslims, Muslims. If they were really working in the interest of Muslims, Muslim families would not have lagged behind in education and jobs. Modi, during his visit to Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, said the appeasement policy adopted by some people is “disastrous” for the country. Raising the issue of Pasmanda Muslims, he said that vote bank politics has ruined them. There is no one to listen to his voice. He said that only a section of the Muslim religion exploited the Pasmanda Muslims. On the issue of triple talaq, he said that those advocating it are vote bank hungry. Citing countries like Pakistan and Egypt, he said that if triple talaq was related to Islam, it would not have been abolished in Muslim majority countries of the world. Uniform Civil Code means such a law made for personal life, which every citizen has to follow like other citizens, irrespective of any religion or belief he believes in. These include laws related to marriage, divorce, compensation, succession and property etc. These laws in India at this time are very complex and differ on the basis of religion. The Directive Principles of State Policy are given in Part IV of the Constitution. Its Article 44 says, ‘The government shall endeavor to ensure a uniform civil code for citizens living in all areas of the country.’ However, these are not enforced by the courts, but are called guiding principles for governing the country. This article confirms the idea of ​​UCC in the mind of the constitution makers of India and PM Modi is also pushing on the same ground.

Controversy regarding Uniform Civil Code has been going on before and after independence, but considering the demand of time and the spirit of the Constitution, it would be appropriate to implement Uniform Civil Code in the country. On June 14, the Law Commission had invited views from all stakeholders on the issue of Uniform Civil Code. The commission’s chairman Justice Rituraj Awasthi said last Wednesday that within just two weeks of starting the public consultation process, the commission has received around 8.5 lakh responses.

At the same time, hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board held a meeting through video conference last Tuesday night, in which the draft document on objections to the Uniform Civil Code was discussed. This document being prepared by the lawyers of the board will be handed over to the Law Commission. However, board member Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali said it was a routine meeting and should not be linked to the Prime Minister’s statement. The board member said, “UCC is against the spirit of the Constitution and we will strongly oppose it.” The UCC will not only affect Muslims, but also Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Jains, Jews, Parsis and other small minorities. The Aam Aadmi Party has given its in-principle support to the Uniform Civil Code, but added that it should be brought in with a consensus after extensive consultation with all stakeholders. The party’s national general secretary (organisation) Sandeep Pathak said the government should hold wide consultations on the proposal with all stakeholders, including political parties and non-political organisations. Pathak said, “The AAP supports the UCC in principle. Article 44 (of the Constitution) also supports it. But the government should bring UCC only when there is a consensus among the stakeholders/concerned parties. AAP is the only opposition party which has given in-principle support to the UCC. The Shiromani Akali Dal said that the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code would adversely affect the minority and tribal communities. The party said that the ‘anti-minority face’ of the Aam Aadmi Party has also been exposed. Akali leader Daljit Singh Cheema said that the SAD has always opposed the Uniform Civil Code and would lodge objections with the Law Commission as well as in Parliament. Civil laws in the country are influenced by faith, belief, caste and customs and differ. “These should be retained in the interest of safeguarding the concept of unity in diversity,” Cheema said.

In view of the growing controversy over the Uniform Civil Code, Union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal has said that suggestions have been sought from the general public on the issue of Uniform Civil Code. One month’s time has been given. Everyone should wait for July 13 before jumping to conclusions, only then will the correct answer be given. He said that the Law Commission has put the draft of the Uniform Civil Code in the public domain. Public opinion has been sought on this till July 13. Instead of making any controversial comment on this issue, people should wait. Union Minister V. Muraleedharan said that the Uniform Civil Code will not curtail the rights of any section and people should not be misled by the Congress and the CPI(M) on the issue. Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said that we will get the Uniform Civil Code implemented. Every person is equal in the 140 crore people of the country. There should be a policy for everyone. On the other hand, President of National Conference (NC) and former Chief Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah has opposed the Uniform Civil Code. Talking to reporters after offering Namaz-e-Eid at Hazratbal Dargah in Srinagar, he said that Muslims have their own Shariat law, if they insist on Uniform Civil Code, then there will be no storm. Pointing towards the central government, Farooq said that what these people are doing is not right. They should think again on this. People of every religion live in this country. People following different ideologies, speaking different languages ​​live here. It is a diverse nation. Therefore, the Central Government should not insist on the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code here. NCP chief Sharad Pawar said the issue of Uniform Civil Code is an attempt to divert people’s attention from the failure of the government. He said that before discussing this, the central government should implement reservation for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies. DMK President and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin said the PM wanted to disrupt law and order and was trying to spread religious violence. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice on Thursday said it will convene a meeting on July 3 on the issue of Uniform Civil Code and hear the views of all stakeholders. The committee, headed by BJP’s Rajya Sabha MP Sushil Modi, has informed all 31 MPs and members of the committee that suggestions from stakeholders on the Uniform Civil Code will be sought and considered in this meeting. On Monday the meeting will start at 3 pm. After the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code, one rule related to marriage, divorce, inheritance etc. will be applicable for all in the whole country.

The confusion and misconceptions that the opposition parties are spreading regarding the Uniform Civil Code are doing so only and only for political selfishness. Keeping national interest in front, Aam Aadmi Party has supported Uniform Civil Code in principle. After the meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Uniform Civil Code to be held on July 3, it is understandable if any party protests on any issue. The Uniform Civil Code has not even been implemented yet and the game of protest for the sake of protest has started. This thing is not in the interest of the country. All political parties and other religious organizations who are afraid of being affected should put their point before the government for positive consideration. It is not right to oppose for the sake of opposing. Lakhs of suggestions have already come before the government, the government will take a decision only after considering them. The decision taken by the government will be in the interest of the country only. There can still be dialogue. That’s why a negative atmosphere should not be created in the country. If law is made, • There is a proposal to make the marriageable age of girls of all religions equal. The age of marriage may increase. • Registration of marriage is not mandatory in the country. The UCC suggests that it should be mandatory in all religions. Without this, you will not get the benefit of government facilities. • Polygamy can be completely banned in every religion after UCC. • It may be necessary to give details for this. • The rituals of Halala and Iddat will end in the Muslim society. • The grounds for divorce are different for the wife and the husband. Similar grounds may apply after UCC. • After the death of the husband, after getting the compensation, the wife remarries and the parents of the deceased are left destitute. UCC suggests that if compensation is given to the widowed wife, then the responsibility of the old in-laws will also be on her. If the second marriage is done then the parents of the deceased will get the compensation. • Muslim women will also get rights. • UCC suggests that the process of guardianship of orphan children should be simplified and strengthened. • Girls do not have equal rights in property in many religions. UCC suggests equal rights for all. • Population control is also suggested in UCC. The UCC suggests that the number of children born should be limited. On breaking the rules, be deprived of the benefits of government facilities, so that population explosion can be stopped.

– Irwin Khanna (Chief Editor, Dainik Uttam Hindu)