The chief ministers of all five southern states have expressed their opposition to the proposed Uniform Civil Code.
The meeting of Siddaramaiah with AIMPLB members. (Twitter)
Yet another chief minister of a southern state has come out firmly against the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC).
Terming the issue an “unnecessary controversy”, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah assured representatives of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) that he would protect the rights of minorities.
The chief minister on Wednesday, 26 July, said it was an unnecessary controversy created by the Union government headed by the BJP in view of the Lok Sabha elections next year.
Siddaramaiah told a delegation of AIMPLB representatives who called on him that his government would not allow suppression of minority rights.
“The state government will act to protect the rights of minorities; no need to worry about this,” the chief minister said.
During a discussion at the chief minister’s Home Office “Krishna”, the AIMPLB members expressed concern about the “threat to the rights” of Muslims and the Muslim personal law due to the implementation of the UCC, a statement issued by the chief minister’s office said.
The previous Law Commission had rejected the Union government’s proposal, saying that implementation of UCC was not feasible in this diverse country, they told the chief minister.
“Now the Union government has asked the present Law Commission to review this matter again. Accordingly, the Law Commission is collecting opinions from the public,” one of the delegation members was quoted as saying.
In reply, Siddaramaiah said, “We will respond after the publication of the draft Uniform Civil Code. Our government will never allow suppression of minority rights. The Union government is creating unnecessary controversy.”
On 19 July, a delegation of Muslim leaders called on Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu regarding the issue, and both promised they would not do anything that would hurt the sentiments of the minority community.
“This is your government working for the interests of the weaker sections and minorities and it will not take any decision that will hurt your sentiments. Don’t get unduly worried,” Jagan told the Muslim representatives.
“If these (personal laws) are to be changed, the Supreme Court, Law Commission, and the Union government should discuss the issues with various law boards and work on their proposals. Otherwise, it may not work in a country like India which is guided by diversity,” he added.
Promising that the TDP would never go against Muslim interests, Naidu vouched his party would stand by them on the UCC issue.
“I will study the suggestions from the Muslim community on the UCC and stand by you. The TDP will always give priority to the welfare and development of the Muslim community and will uphold their religious beliefs,” Naidu said.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, on 13 July, urged the MPs from the southern state to adopt a united stand in the Lok Sabha against the Union government’s move to implement the UCC in the country.
The chief minister said such announcements (regarding the implementation of the UCC) were made without due consultations with various castes and religious groups and have caused great anxiety among minorities in the country.
On 15 July, the CPI(M) organised a National popular seminar at Kozhikode in Kerala against the central government’s move to implement UCC unilaterally, without any concrete proposals.
Following the criticism that the Congress was trying to sabotage the meeting, Leader of Opposition in The state Assembly VD Satheesan said that the Congress had raised an important question as to what extent a government can interfere with personal laws and customs, and it was always against the implementation of the UCC.
“We opposed it before the Parliamentary Committee and will oppose it inside and outside the Parliament. The Congress, both when in power and when it was not, has taken the stand that there was no need for the UCC,” he said while speaking to reporters in Kochi.
DMK general secretary Duraimurugan, on 12 July, wrote to the 22nd Law Commission chairperson and members on behalf of the party, objecting to the proposed enactment of the UCC by the Union government.
He said the move was an “antithesis to the right of freedom of practising and propagating one’s religion under Article 25 and rights given to minorities under Article 29 of the Constitution of India”.
“Each religion has evolved its unique, distinct custom and tradition over centuries of practice, in keeping with their beliefs and religious texts. To upset them with brute force is nothing short of tyranny and oppression and must not be committed by the state, which acts as parens patriae,” the DMK general secretary said.
He underlined the Hindu Succession Act of 1956, whose Section 2(2) states that the Act would not apply to Scheduled Tribes (ST).
Duraimurugan also pointed out that the UCC would harm Hindu culture and customs, and that Scheduled Tribes that professed to follow Hinduism had different customs and traditions that were not in keeping with other Hindus.
“In such a scenario, it begs the question that when UCC cannot be uniform even among practitioners of the Hindu religion, how can it be implemented across the board to all religions?” he asked.
“Before the Uniform Civil Code for all religions, we need a uniform caste code to eliminate caste discrimination and atrocities,” Duraimurugan said.
On 10 July, Telangana Chief Minister revealed the BRS’ stand on the issue by describing the UCC as yet another attempt of the BJP-led Union government to foment hatred among religious communities.
He said that the BRS would oppose the UCC as “it would deal a blow to the country’s basic characteristic of unity in diversity”.
He made the assurance to a delegation of the Muslim Personal Law Board which called on him at his Pragathi Bhavan residence. It was led by AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi and Khalid Saifullah Rahmani of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board.
Earlier, Owaisi, a vocal critic of the proposed UCC, has contended that while the BJP wants to enact the law to “teach Muslims a lesson”, in reality, it is other communities in India that would suffer more.
“It is said that Muslims will be taught a lesson through the UCC, but this common law is not good for the entire country. Rather than Muslims, non-Muslims will be at a loss. This is being done to erase our identities in the country,” Owaisi, the MP from Hyderabad, contended.
(With PTI inputs)
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