JDU raises concern over PM’s remarks on UCC

New Delhi. The Janata Dal (United) has expressed its dissatisfaction over Prime Minister’s statement on Uniform Civil Code (UCC). JDU National Spokesperson in a statement said that ‘Our party considers it as a ‘political stunt’ for the upcoming General elections and his statement has nothing to do with the welfare of the minorities.

Stating further, Mr. Tyagi said that JD(U) is aware that Article 44 of our Constitution states that the State shall endeavor to provide for all its citizens a Uniform Civil Code (UCC). This clause is part of the Directive Principles of state policy and not under the Section on Fundamental Rights.
‘While the State must endeavour to bring in the
UCC, such an effort, in order to be enduring and
sustainable, must be based on a broad consensus in favour of such a move, rather than be imposed by fiat from above.’

He said that It is important to always remember that ours is a nation based on a delicate balance in respect of laws and governing principles for different religions and ethnic groups. Any attempt, therefore, to impose a UCC, without obtaining substantive through consultations, the
concurrence of various religious groups, especially the minorities, could lead to social friction and an erosion of faith in the constitutional guarantee of freedom of religion.

The statement said that in JDU’s view, such in depth consultations
have not yet taken place with various religious groups. In the absence of such a process, any attempt at premature or hasty tampering with long standing religious practices
that deal with complex issues of marriage, divorce,
adoption, inheritance and the right to property and
succession, would be clearly inadvisable.
The enforcement of a UCC would require all current laws applicable in such
matters in respect of Muslims, Christians, Parsis and Hindus (including Buddhists, Sikhs and Jains) to be scrapped. Such a drastic step can hardly be taken without substantive consultations with all stakeholders, including
State governments.
It is also imperative that the concrete details of the UCC being proposed by the Central Government are made known in advance so as to enable all stakeholders to provide a detailed response.
Adding further, Mr. Tyagi said that UCC must be seen as a measure of reform for the welfare of the people, and not a political instrumentality to be hurriedly imposed against their wishes and without consultations with them.
He added that Article 44 has been placed in the Directive
Principles precisely in order to stress the element of
consensus and discussion that should inform such
endeavours.

The Janata Dal (United) believes that democracy is based on the foundational principle of a
constructive dialogue. Where the UCC is concerned, dialogue, based on broad based consultations with all
religious denominations, is particularly necessary given the multi-cultural, multi-religious nature of our society.
In the same spirit of dialogue it is essential that the UCC is first put to debate in the parliament as well as legislative assemblies of States and other forums of civil society. He said that Bihar Chief Minister has cleared it’s stand on UCC with all the above concerns to the chairman of the Law Commission of India in past also.