Shiv Sena (UBT) faction led by Uddhav Thackeray is planning to support the Modi government’s Uniform Civil Code (UCC). As per sources, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anand Dubey told the media that the party would support the bill whenever it is introduced.
According to Dubey, senior party leaders will decide and deliberate with other opposition parties on the UCC issue. While speaking with the media, Shiv Sena (UBT) senior leader and MP Sanjay Raut hinted that their party would support UCC. He stated that the party always supported the idea of the Uniform Civil Code, but the final decision would be taken after the draft of the UCC bill had been made.
Recently June 28, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) extended its support “in principal” to BJP on Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and asked for more comprehensive consultations with all the stakeholders in the society.
While talking to the media, AAP national general secretary Sandeep Pathak stated, “In principle, we support Uniform Civil Code (UCC) as Article 44 also says that there should be UCC in the country. However, it should be implemented after wider consultation with everyone. We feel that there should be wide consultation with all religions, political parties and organizations and a consensus should be built”.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently pitched for Uniform Civil Code and said that appeasement politics had left many people behind, including the Pasmanda Muslims. His pro-Pasmanda stand was welcomed by various sections of the backward Muslim community, but with the condition that the leaders of the Pasmanda community should also be invited to the discussions.
The Uttar Pradesh state President of All India Pasmanda Muslim Mahaj, Wasim Raini, welcomed PM Modi’s reach out towards the Pasmanda community. He stated, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the first PM who has spoken about problems faced by the Pasmanda Muslims and expressed a commitment to their welfare from a public platform. The Congress, Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party got the community’s votes but failed to give a share in political power. The Pasmanda community is looking with hope towards the BJP”.
While Peace Party president Mohammad Ayub remarked that if the BJP is serious about empowering Pasmanda Muslims politically, socially, and educationally, the PM’s appeal should be followed by real actions, such as an invitation to the Pasmanda leadership for further discussions.
Meanwhile, Rashtriya Ulama Council spokesperson Talha Rashidi stated that if the Prime Minister is serious about integrating Pasmanda Muslims into the national mainstream, his words must be backed up by actions.
According to Basit Ali, president of the BJP Minority Cell, the state government’s programmes have aided 4.5 crore Muslims in Uttar Pradesh.
Earlier, batting for the UCC, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 27 stated that the country could not be governed with “two laws” when the constitution of India talks about equality for all. He asked how different rules could apply to different family members.
“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,” PM Modi said in Bhopal today while addressing party workers under the BJP’s “Mera Booth Sabse Majboot” campaign.
After Prime Minister remarked on UCC, several parties, including the Congress, the DMK, and the Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM, accused Narendra Modi of engaging in “divisive politics”. Recently Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) also opposed the UCC.
After PM Modi’s speech, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) held an emergency meeting late at night on June 27. In the meeting, AIMPLB decided to oppose the UCC. The board members decided that the Muslim law board would present their side in front of the Law Commission on UCC and would also present the documents.
AIMPLB president Saifullah Rehmani, Chairman of the Islamic Centre of India and member of AIMPLB Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali, and AIMPLB lawyers, among others, attended the meeting.
