"In A Secular State, There Can Be No Law Based On Religion": Amit Shah On UCC (image:twitter.com/AmitShah)

While attending ET NOW Global Business Summit 2024 on Saturday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said: “UCC (Uniform Civil Code) is a major social change.” In response to a question concerning the civil code, the minister affirmed that in a secular state, there can be no law based on religion.

Home Minister said: “UCC has been BJP”s agenda since Jan Sangh days. It is the Constitution”s agenda as well. Constituent Assembly members have said that the country should adopt UCC when the time is right.” He added that several Congress leaders have signed for UCC, including leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Maulana Azad.

UCC has been BJP”s agenda since Jan Sangh days. It is the Constitution”s agenda as well. Constituent Assembly members have said that the country should adopt UCC when the time is right. Several Congress leaders have signed that, including the likes of JL Nehru and Maulana Azad.… pic.twitter.com/Z7LsxmKwi8

— BJP (@BJP4India) February 10, 2024

“UCC is a major social change. There should be social and religious debates on the same. Legal scrutiny will also take place. In a secular state, there can be no law based on religion – this has been accepted by the entire world and we believe the same,” Amit Shah added.

Amit Shah”s response is significant, as the opposition parties have voiced their dissent against the Uttarakhand UCC bill since it was introduced by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on February 6. UCC establishes a common law on subjects including marriage, divorce, land, property, and inheritance of property.

A day after its presentation, the state legislative Assembly passed the Bill on Wednesday, February 7. A common civil code for the state was one of the major poll promises put forward by the BJP in the 2022 Assembly elections. With its passage, Uttarakhand becomes the first Indian state to adopt the UCC.

Considering the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, states such as Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Assam are interested in implementing UCC. Meanwhile, the BJP has mentioned in the 2014 and 2019 general election manifestos that it would implement the UCC in order to empower women and promote gender justice.