Prime Minister Narendra Modi pushes for secular civil code
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday stressed on the need to bring a ‘Secular Civil Code’ instead of using the term ‘Universal Civil Code’, hinting at the government’s intention to broad-base the policy and avoid friction on the contentious issue, both within the ruling NDA and outside.
This is the first time that Modi has referred to the Universal Civil Code (UCC) as ‘Secular Civil Code’, a move many within the BJP claim will leave the Opposition with no choice.
The opposition, the BJP leaders say, will not be able to criticise it as the PM has made a case for a secular code.
“This simple rephrasing has changed the entire dynamics, and the PM has changed the entire false narrative that the Opposition had built and was raising it. The BJP is not anti-Muslim, and the fact that the PM is pushing for a Secular Code means that the Opposition will not be able to counter it. What are they going to tell the people, that secularism is bad?” a senior BJP leader told ThePrint.
Addressing from the Red Fort, two months after he started his third term, Modi said the current civil code resembles a “Communal Civil Code.”
“In our country, the Supreme Court has repeatedly addressed the issue of the Uniform Civil Code. Numerous orders have been issued, reflecting the belief of a significant portion of our population — and rightly so — that the current Civil Code resembles a Communal Civil Code, one that is discriminatory,” he said.
Pushing for a ‘Secular Civil Code’, Modi further said that “laws that divide our nation based on religion and foster discrimination have no place in modern society.” The code, he said, will eliminate ‘religious discrimination. ’
“… the time has come for the country to demand a Secular Civil Code. After 75 years of a Communal Civil Code, it is crucial to move towards a Secular Civil Code. Once this shift takes place, it will eliminate religious discrimination and will bridge the gap felt by ordinary citizens,” Modi said.