The BJP has proposed the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) ahead of next year's Lok Sabha elections to "annihilate" the tribals and minorities by "snatching away" their rights, said Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Dediapada MLA Chaitar Vasava Thursday as he kickstarted a massive protest by members of the tribal community against the proposed law in his constituency. Chaitar, who led the rally before handing over to a local Mamlatdar a memorandum addressed to President Droupadi Murmu, said the BJP considers the President to be "lowly" and thus "left her out of the inauguration of the new Parliament". The AAP MLA who addressed a gathering of the tribal community members during the protest march said the Jan Sangh — the parent organisation of the BJP — had promised to repeal Article 370 as well as build the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, but the BJP was taking a step forward to "destroy the minorities and tribals". "But now, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, with a view to finish off tribals and minorities by taking away the rights, reservations and rituals, the BJP has brought in the UCC. The question of taking away the special rights of the communities is not something we can be silent about," Chaitar said. Urging the tribal community to unite, Chaitar stated that the AAP will organise a massive protest against UCC on World Tribal Day on August 9. "We will take to the streets, gherao the state Assembly and the district collector's office. we will fight with all our might. This is the start of the protest against the UCC. The BJP will feel the impact on more than 427 seats of the Lok Sabha where the tribals are in significant numbers," Chaitar said. He said the tribal community was "unique" as it accepted lovers who eloped and married, polygamy and widow remarriage among other practices. Warning that the tribals would lose their cultural, religious, financial and social identity with the implementation of the UCC, he said, "We treat sons and daughters equally. We also have 'jamai-pratha' (homecoming of the son-in-law) in case there are no sons in the family. Our communities can decide divorces in villages (sabhas). If UCC is implemented, all these rights and our rituals for our kuldevtas (traditional deities) would be dissolved. It will also take away the special powers that our community has been granted in the Constitution by way of reservation. This will end our representation in politics where we right now have elected representatives right from the gram level to MPs". Chaitar also alleged that the BJP wanted to implement UCC to "take away forests and properties from tribals". "Right now, due to the special laws framed for tribal communities, we have protection for our properties. If UCC is implemented, this law will be gone; the Articles of the Constitution that grant us protection of properties, right on the forests as well as the power to our villages will be removed. The violation of forest protection and rights is a serious issue.They will take away our properties, stop our water and take away our forests," he said. Alleging that the President of India was in a "pathetic condition" because she was a tribal, Chaitar said, "We have addressed the memorandum to President Draupadi Murmu. She is the head of the Constitution but her situation is pathetic. The President was not invited to the inauguration of Parliament. It is because she is a tribal and the BJP considers her a "neech" (lowly). She is not allowed to enter the Jagannath Puri sanctum sanctorum because she is a tribal". Chaitar also alleged that BJP leaders have been asking him to join the party instead of protesting.
