'Uniformity Should Not Be Confused With Unity': SAD Writes To Law Commission Opposing Uniform Civil Code

Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal asked the 22nd Law Commission to respect the sentiments of the Sikh community before taking any decision on the proposed Uniform Civil Code

Shiromani Akali Dal on Friday wrote to the Law Commission urging not to go ahead with the proposed Uniform Civil Code and asked it to respect the sentiments of the Sikh community before taking any decision on the issue. It also said enforcing it without a countrywide interfaith consensus will “violate the spirit of the Constitution” and generate fear and distrust, reported news agency PTI. The party urged the Centre not to go ahead with the idea of the Uniform Civil Code. 

"Uniformity should not be confused with unity. India symbolises unity in diversity and not in uniformity. Only a truly federal structure can resolve our problems and make India a global superpower,” SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal stated in his letter to the member secretary of the 22nd Law Commission, as per the report. 

In his letter, Badal also highlighted that it was important since Punjab is a border state and peace and communal harmony in the “sensitive border state must always remain a top national priority.” He also informed the Commission that his party had held consultations with different stakeholders in the state and outside. 

"On the basis of that, the widespread impression we gathered is that the UCC, if implemented, will definitely affect the freedom of minority communities of different caste, creed, and religions," he said.

The SAD chief also said it believed in safeguarding democracy and federalism seeks greater autonomy to the states.

A genuine federal structure in the country was a prerequisite for protecting the fundamental rights of religious, linguistic, ethnic, and regional minorities, he added.

A truly integrated, federal vision was the best guarantee for economic progress to give the country "its destined role as a global economic super power," he also said.

Since no draft has been prepared and circulated by the Law Commission on the proposed UCC, the party leader said it was impossible to make any tangible suggestions on the issue. A concrete draft that outlines all details of the proposed legislation should be circulated among the people throughout the country so that they could give their opinions, he added. 

He also quoted the 2018 report of the 21st Law Commission which noted that UCC was neither necessary nor desirable.