Uniform Civil Code Not A Push Under Modi 3.0 Government; States Can Enact: Report

The central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is reportedly not keen on implementing the controversial Uniform Civil Code (UCC) through the parliament. The Union Government, instead, wants states to enact their own legislation on it, according to a report by News 18 citing Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) sources.

Though the BJP won the recently held Lok Sabha election, its tally significantly plummeted from 303 to 240, despite expecting a larger control over the parliament by securing more than 400 seats for its alliance, the NDA. The party, in its manifesto, claimed that it would implement a nationwide Uniform Civil Code, replacing religious personal laws in matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption, among others.

Read Also: On UCC, Ally JD(U) Reminds BJP All Decisions Must Be Made Through Consensus

Among the saffron party’s major promises, such as the abrogation of Article 370, the construction of Ram Mandir and the criminalisation of Triple Talaq, UCC implementation has remained unfulfilled, though the issue had found place in the party’s past manifestos.

However, BJP-ruled states such as Assam, Uttarakhand and Gujarat have taken steps to implement the UCC, with the Uttarakhand government passing the bill in its state assembly in February this year. In June, Union Law Minister, Arjun Ram Meghwal had said that the UCC was still on the government’s agenda, but earlier this month, the Minister stated that the next move on the UCC proceedings will be taken only after the 22nd Law Commission’s report.

Read Also: NDA Allies Chandrababu Naidu, Nitish Kumar Stand Firm On Muslim Reservation, Anti-Muslim Rhetoric

With the BJP not having a simple majority in the NDA and being dependent on its allies, including the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Janata Dal (United), the party might need the support of the ally members to pass significant bills in parliament. JD (U) has already stated that the UCC implementation requires thorough consultation with all religious groups. TDP chief, Chandrababu Naidu had in 2023 said that his party would stand with Muslim community on the contentious UCC, adding that the party will not act against the interest of the community.

Minority communities, especially Muslims have been wary of the law as they fear it to be an attempt to build Hindu hegemony while dismantling their freedom over many personal affairs.