New Delhi: The Congress on Saturday said the party will stick to its stand on Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and noted that when there is a draft bill or discussion, the party will take part in it, but as of now it will stand by its June 15 statement that UCC is undesirable at this juncture. The party made the statement after a parliamentary strategy group meeting where the top leaders discussed various issues to be raised during the Monsoon session of Parliament beginning July 20.
“On 15th June, the Congress Party issued a statement on the Law Commission's request for comments on the Uniform Civil Code. Nothing has happened from 15 June to 1 July. We stand by the statement that was made on 15 June. When there is a draft or discussion, we will of course participate, and examine whatever is proposed. But as of now, all that we have is the Law Commission's public notice calling for public responses to the Uniform Civil Code from different organisations,” news agency ANI quoted Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh as saying.
Speaking on the Manipur situation, Jairam Ramesh said the Congress demands the resignation of Chief Minister N Biren Singh and slammed the BJP leadership, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for not being able to control the situation.
“From the Congress party we demand that the resignation of the Chief Minister of Manipur should be taken as soon as possible. What happened yesterday in Imphal shows that BJP's high command, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah is not in control of the situation, Home Minister also went to Manipur...no positive effect was seen from it. The PM is silent for the last sixty days and we are repeatedly demanding that the Prime Minister should break his silence,” Jairam Ramesh further said.
Meanwhile, Manipur CM N Biren Singh said why he first planned to step down from his role amid the state's continuous unrest before deciding to stay in office.
“I saw effigies of PM Modi and HM Amit Shah being burnt at a few places in the state, saw attempts of attack on BJP office. What the Centre did for Manipur and we did for Manipur in 5-6 years, I doubted if we have lost the trust of people. Thinking about this made me feel bad...Abusive language was used by a small group against me a few days back at a market. It didn't feel good...So, I decided this,” the chief minister told news agency ANI.