Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Thursday hit out at Modi government over the issue of uniform civil code (UCC) amid Law Commission of India's demand for a fresh reference in the matter. Citing previous Law Commission which deemed UCC as neither necessary nor desirable, Ramesh alleged it as Modi government's desperation for a legitimate justification for its continuing agenda of polarisation and diversion from its glaring failures.
In the statement, the Congress leader said, "In a press note published on June 14th, 2023, the 22nd Law Commission of India notified its intention to examine the Uniform Civil Code. This was being done, the press note clarified, on a reference sent by the Ministry of Law & Justice. It is strange that the Law Commission is seeking a fresh reference when in its press release it acknowledges that its predecessor, the 21st Law Commission had published a consultation paper on the subject in August 2018."
While expanding on the suspected reason for the Commission's demand, he said, "No reasons are given for why the subject is being revisited except for vague references to 'the relevance and the importance of the subject and also the various court orders'."
He further said, "The real reason is that the 21st Law Commission after carrying out a detailed and comprehensive review of the subject observed that it is 'neither necessary nor desirable at this stage' to have a Uniform Civil Code. This latest attempt represents the Modi Government’s desperation for a legitimate justification for its continuing agenda of polarisation and diversion from its glaring failures."
Ramesh then cited the 21st Law Commission and talked about how it said that a uniform civil code is neither necessary nor desirable at this stage. He quoted the Commission as saying, “While the diversity of Indian culture can and should be celebrated, specific groups or weaker sections of society must not be dis-privileged in the process. Resolution of this conflict does not mean the abolition of all differences. This Commission has therefore dealt with laws that are discriminatory rather than providing a uniform civil code which is neither necessary nor desirable at this stage. Most countries are now moving towards recognition of difference and the mere existence of difference does not imply discrimination but is indicative of a robust democracy."
He further said that the Law Commission should be mindful of that legacy and remember that the interests of the nation are different from the political ambitions of the BJP.