Not against UCC, but don’t support how BJP is trying to implement it: Mayawati

Stating that people in the country follow different religions and separate practices and traditions from birth to death, which cannot be overlooked, the former UP chief minister said: “But this fact also needs to be considered that if a uniform law becomes applicable in every matter of people’s life of different religions, then the country will not become weaker but become stronger. It will also lead to communal harmony and brotherhood.”

Considering the significance of social harmony, the efforts for making UCC was mentioned in Article 44 of the Constitution, she said, “But there is no provision in the Dr BR Ambedkar’s Constitution to implement it forcibly. Awareness, as well as consensus, is believed to be best for that.” “But instead of doing that, politics of self-interest is being done at present which is not appropriate in the interest of the nation,” she added.

Stressing that the government should rise above politics while implementing UCC and there should not be any religious discrimination in its implementation, Mayawati said: “There should be no bias in (implementing) it. And if the BJP government does it that way (without bias), our party will adopt a positive approach, otherwise, our party will oppose it.”

She also accused the BJP of raking up the issue to divert the attention of the people from issues such as inflation, poverty, unemployment, education, healthcare etc. “It’s a common discussion these days that the government does not pay attention to major problems, and in order to divert attention, these people (ruling party) are talking about UCC,” she added.

On June 14, the Law Commission invited opinions from the public and religious bodies on the matter. Earlier this week in Bhopal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made his first public push for a Uniform Civil Code, saying the country cannot have separate laws for its people, and that the Constitution obligates the State to secure a UCC for its citizens. He had also accused the Opposition of trying to “instigate” the Muslims on the UCC and not caring for their welfare.