Reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks on the ‘Uniform civil code’ during his Independence Day speech, Samajwadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav on Friday said the need of the hour is for all castes to get their rights and dignity.
“The biggest issues for the nation are that inflation must come down, youth must find jobs and the dreams of the Samajwadi people must be realized. Everyone must participate and our society will become prosperous. All castes will get their rights and dignity. This is the need of the hour,” said the SP leader.
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Congress Leader Jairam Ramesh also criticized PM Modi
Earlier, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh had said the comments were an insult to Dr BR Ambedkar, who was the biggest advocate of Hindu personal law reforms.
Jairam Ramesh also said that the Law Commission appointed by the BJP-led NDA government had said in 2018 that the Uniform Civil Code is “neither necessary nor desirable at this stage”.
“The capacity of the non-biological prime minister for malice, action and defamation of history knows no limits. It was fully demonstrated today by the Red Castle. He says that we had a “Communal civil code ” so far is a grave insult to Dr. Ambedkar, who was the first advocate of the Hindu personal law reforms that took place in the mid-1950s. “These reforms were strongly opposed by the RSS and the Jan Sangh,” Jairam Ramesh in a separate post had said in paragraph 1.15 of his 182-page consultation paper on family law reform, dated 31 August 2018:
While the diversity of Indian culture can and should be celebrated, particular groups or weaker sections of society should not be disadvantaged in this process. The resolution of this conflict does not mean the abolition of all differences. Therefore, this commission dealt with discriminatory laws instead of providing a uniform civil code, which is neither necessary nor desirable at this stage. Most countries are moving towards recognizing differences and the mere existence of a difference does not mean discrimination, but is a sign of a strong democracy,” the Congress leader added.
PM Modi move forward for Secular Civil Code
In his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Modi said that a large section of people feel that the current Civil Code resembles a communal Civil Code and is discriminatory.
He said that laws that divide the country based on religion and encourage discrimination have no place in modern society and that after 75 years it is essential to move towards a “secular civil code”.
“In our country, the Supreme Court has held several discussions regarding the Uniform Civil Code and issued orders. A large part of the country believes and it is true that the civil code we live by is actually a kind of of communal civil code, a discriminatory civil code,” said the Prime Minister.
“I think this serious issue should be addressed throughout the country.Everyone should share their suggestions. I would say that it is urgent to have a secular civil code.We have spent 75 years in the municipal civil code. Now we have to go to the secular code. Only then will we be free from discrimination based on religion,” he added.
