'Don't Embarrass Yourself': Kapil Sibal Slams BJP Over Uniform Civil Court Promise Amid Hijab Row

The former union minister said Dhami’s assertion shows the BJP is losing the Uttarakhand Assembly elections and that he needs some legal advice.

Congress leader Kapil Sibal (File Pic)

New Delhi: Taking a jibe at Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami over his remarks that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will constitute a committee to prepare a draft Uniform Civil Code if re-elected, Congress veteran Kapil Sibal on Saturday asked him not to “embarrass” his party and himself by making such announcements.

The former union minister said Dhami’s assertion shows the BJP is losing the Uttarakhand Assembly elections and that he needs some legal advice.

“Pushkar S Dhami, Please don't embarrass your party and yourself when you make announcements about implementing the Uniform Civil Code in Uttarakhand if BJP comes to power. This shows your party is losing in Uttarakhand and that You need some legal advice,” he tweeted.

Dhami had earlier promised implementation of the Uniform Civil Code in the hill state after the assembly elections if the BJP is voted to power again.

He said implementing the Uniform Civil Code in Uttarakhand at the earliest will boost equal rights for everyone in the state.

“It will enhance social harmony, boost gender justice, strengthen women empowerment and help protect the extraordinary cultural-spiritual identity and environment of the state,” Dhami told news agency ANI.

“This Uniform Civil Code will provide for same laws regarding marriages, divorce, land-property and inheritance for all people, irrespective of their faith,” he added.

The Uniform Civil Code, which seeks to scrap the separate civil laws applicable for minorities in religious and cultural affairs, would put in place a set of laws to govern the personal matters of the citizens irrespective of their religion.

The hill state will go for polls in a single phase on February 14 and the results will be declared on March 10.

In the 2017 Uttarakhand Assembly elections, the BJP had won 56 out of the total 70 seats. The Congress party bagged just 11 seats.