EDITORIAL: Reject divisive agenda – Telangana Today

The BRS has done a good job of explicitly assuring people that it will oppose the Uniform Civil Code in Parliament

There is a choice between celebrating diversity and imposing unbridled authority in the name of unity. The BJP’s recent campaign in favor of the Unified Civil Code (UCC) is a typical tactic to divert attention from the country’s failures by dividing the people on religious grounds. There is a need to debunk the saffron’s bluff and expose its devious machinations before the elections. Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has done a good job in clearly assuring people that it will oppose the Centre’s attempts to introduce UCC in Parliament. Other parties in the opposition should also clearly state their position on this issue. It is clear that the BJP wants to gain political benefits from this sensitive issue at a time when the country is already facing numerous social and economic challenges. One has to recognize the fact that the world in general is moving towards embracing diversity rather than imposing uniformity. This is especially important in open, free and democratic societies. India is the birthplace of different religions, customs and cultures, and its pluralism has always been a model for the world. The mere existence of differences does not imply discrimination, but rather an expression of the soundness of a democratic system. Cultural diversity must not be compromised because our desire for unity itself becomes a threat to the territorial integrity of nations. Therefore, all progressive and secular forces must reject the divisive politics of the BJP aimed at provoking the people and creating unrest in the country.

While the Uniform Civil Code has become part of the guiding principles of the Constitution, we must bear in mind contemporary realities before undertaking such sensitive reforms. The challenge for governments is to reconcile the many customs and social mores that are prevalent in diverse societies. In 1948, when the Common Civil Code was discussed at length and adopted as a guiding principle, the then Chairman of the Drafting Committee, BR Ambedkar, promised that the Uniform Civil Code would not be imposed on the people, as Article 44 “merely recommends that the Efforts should be made to formulate a civil code”. Ambedkar also highlighted the possibility that a future parliament could enact regulations applying the UCC on a “purely voluntary” basis. The 21st Legal Affairs Commission in 2018 concluded after a thorough review of the issue that a unified civil code is “neither necessary nor desirable”. Intriguingly, the 22nd Law Commission has now launched a campaign to seek input from the public and religious organizations on the matter. Wondering what exactly has changed over the past five years has prompted the Law Commission to revisit the issue. It must be noted that the UCC has long been part of the core agenda of the BJP.