WATCH: 'Jai Shri Ram', 'Bharat Mata Ki...' Slogans Echo In Uttarakhand Assembly As CM Dhami Tables UCC Bill

Slogans of 'Jai Shri Ram' and 'Bharat Ki Jai' were raised in the Uttarakhand Assembly on Tuesday as CM Pushkar Singh Dhami tabled the Uniform Civil Code Bill 2024.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday tabled the Uniform Civil Code Bill amid loud slogans of "Vande Mataram" and "Jai Shri Ram" in the state assembly. As soon as the Bill was tabled, the treasury bench MLAs raised slogans of "Bharat Mata Ki Jai".

The Uniform Civil Code Bill 2024 for Uttarakhand has been introduced to standardise laws governing civil life in the state.

Reacting to the introduction of the UCC Bill, Samajwadi Party MP Syed Tufail Hasan said that he will adhere to the laws mentioned in the Quran. "No matter how many laws you bring, we will follow only what is in the Quran Sharif. We know why you are bringing this law. Why is there a need to bring these laws before elections? Because of vote politics? This is being brought only to create discord between Hindus and Muslims. We do not believe in UCC; we believe only in the Quran," Hasan said.

CM Dhami introduced the Bill at a special four-day assembly session, convened specifically to pass it. A day before the introduction of the Bill, CM Dhami shared a video of a speech that Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered in June 2023 on the UCC. PM Modi had said that one household can't have separate laws for its members and everyone should be treated equally.

What Does The UCC Contain?

Specific details of the draft are yet to be disclosed to the public. However, it is expected to establish a legal framework for marriage, divorce, inheritance, land, and property laws, for all religious communities. Once passed in the assembly and ratified by the Governor, Uttarakhand would be the first state to adopt a UCC after Independence. Goa had adopted a UCC during Portuguese rule.

Five nations have so far implemented UCC in some form. They are France, Germany, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Nepal.

The UCC, once implemented will impose a complete ban on polygamy and child marriage, introduce a minimum marriageable age across all religions for women, and standard procedure fo divorce. They are suggestions are aimed at fostering gender equality and social harmony.

The UCC Bill seeks to introduce various changes in civil life to bring in a standard across all communities in various aspects of civil life. Among them are inheritance rights, marriage registration, and the marriageable age for women.