In what is being seen as an expression of the government’s position on the universalisation of personal laws in the country amidst the Law Commission’s decision to revisit the issue, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday reached out to Muslim women while making a fervent pitch for a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) while addressing party workers at Bhopal in the poll-bound Madhya Pradesh.
Accusing “certain sections” of instigating Muslims against the UCC, Modi asked, “If there is one law for one member of the house and another for the other, will the house be able to run? So how will the country be able to run with a dual system?”
The Prime Minister, whose government had passed a law in 2019 banning triple-talaq, said this practice was abolished in Muslim countries like Egypt 80-90 years ago.
“Triple-talaq does not do justice to daughters…entire families get ruined. If triple-talaq is an essential part of Islam then why is it banned in countries like Qatar, Jordan, and Indonesia?,” he asked.
Since assuming office in 2014, the Modi government has implemented two core agenda of the RSS – the abolition of Article 370 and the construction of the Ram Temple. The third – the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code – remains pending.
The prime minister’s statement comes a fortnight after the Law Commission of India sought views from stakeholders on the Uniform Civil Code, almost four years after a commission consultation paper had closed the chapter by calling UCC “neither necessary nor desirable at this stage”.
As reported by DH, a Uttarakhand government-appointed panel is also finalising its report on the UCC along with a draft bill which will be presented to the state government anytime soon.
Addressing BJP workers from across the country who have worked to strengthen the party’s position in their respective booths, Modi on Monday also reached out to the Pasmanda or backward Muslims.
“Even today, Pasmanda Muslims are not given an equal share. They are thought of as untouchables,” Modi said.
The BJP has undertaken a special drive in 65 minority-dominated Lok Sabha constituencies across the country to reach out to the poorer sections within the community, especially the ones who have been beneficiaries of the central government’s social sector schemes.
Modi also launched a salvo at the Opposition leaders and said the “anxiety” of Opposition parties indicate that the people will vote for the BJP in 2024, too.
“The resounding victory of the BJP is certain in 2024. That is why all these opposition parties are in a state of panic. They have decided to deceive the public, appease certain individuals, make false accusations, and attain power by any means possible a few months before the elections,” Modi said.
Calling the Opposition meet in Patna a “photo session”, Modi also took an aim at the “guarantees” or freebies announced by various Opposition leaders, and sought to draw a distinction between “appeasement” and “satisfaction”.
“If you look at the parties participating in it, you will realise they collectively guarantee scams worth at least Rs 20 lakh crore,” he said.