Dear Editor,
Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is one of the three core issues. The repeal of Article 370 has been successfully achieved. Ayodhya Ram Mandir issue has been resolved. But UCC is in waiting. Speculation is rife and opinion has been gaining ground that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has lost interest in bringing UCC. If this issue has been put on hold, it may be probably due to the 5 state Assembly elections having already been announced and the fast approaching Lok Sabha election. People are aware that this cannot be brought into force in haste. Consensus among political leaders is conspicuously absent. The only one issue on which the politicians close their rank is about their pay and perks. On all other issues, what is desirable for ruling parties is anathema for opposition parties. Opposition stems more from political animosity than on ideological differences. UCC represents one nation, one law. In matters of common interest, there is need for UCC. Personal laws can co-exist with UCC provided the provisions of personal laws are not in conflict with the UCC if it comes to force. The prospects of UCC coming into statue book are bright if the NDA stages come back to power in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. What happens in the 2024 elections cannot be predicted. The protagonists of the UCC are of the view that it is “now or never”. People have started airing their opinion that if Yogi Aditynath comes to power, the UCC will come into force. No doubt, Yogi Adityanath is dynamic leader and capable of doing what he wants to do. It is wrong to think that complacency has set in, in Modi to bring UCC. The very purpose of UCC is to make the laws applicable to all irrespective of one’s religion, region, caste or creed. The only state to have UCC in India at present is Goa. BJP governments are disposed more towards UCC. Vote bank politics nurtured by the opposition parties are deterrent for UCC to come into existence. Main opponent of the UCC is the Muslims community based on its interpretation of the Quran and/or belief in Sharia. Congress is very well known to the policy of appeasement. “Appeasement of none and justice for all” should be the doctrine of law. Appeasement of any section of people is bad. The Muslims should introspect on the UCC. UCC is being opposed by others with the belief that it leads to removal of caste-based reservation. Reservation policy has nothing to do with the UCC. Even Dr. Ambdekar had believed that UCC is necessary to promote gender equality, secularism and national integration. The concept of UCC has long history. India’s colonial era saw discussions of a uniform civil code. British government had submitted a report in 1835 calling for the codification of Indian laws in a standard manner to facilitate the administration of justice. If the Britishers had introduced UCC, perhaps it would have met with more resistance than now for the reason that it is a law created by the Britishers. Now there is no such excuse to oppose UCC. If Modi raises pitch for UCC once again, the opposition parties start crying foul alleging that the Modi government has been raising the issue with an eye on Lok Sabha election. Modi is more a statesman than a politician. Politicians think of next election. Statesmen think of next generation. There is enough to say that Modi is a statesman. He is thinking of 2047 to 2050. It does not require a pundit to say that Modi will not be in power at that point of time. He has been chalking out plan for about next 25 years. Modi or Yogi, UCC will definitely come into force if BJP once again comes to power at centre. People interested in the UCC are worried about the low key Modi has been maintaining in bringing the one nation, one law. He should raise the pitch for UCC. He must be insensitive to the criticism that UCC issue is raised with an eye on Lok Sabha election. Elections come and elections go and parties come and parties go. What good thing is done when any party is in power will be remembered by the posterity.
K.V. Seetharamaiah
