NEW DELHI, 16 Aug: Most BJP allies have kept their cards close to chest on the issue of a uniform civil code (UCC), which Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly backed in his Independence Day speech, with the party’s largest partner Telugu Desam Party (TDP) saying that it will wait for details to emerge before finalising its stand.
The JD (U), the BJP’s second biggest ally, said that the party supports any such reform but its spokesperson KC Tyagi added that it must be pushed only after evolving a consensus by speaking to all stakeholders, including religious groups and states.
Lavu Srikrishna Devarayalu, the leader of the TDP Parliamentary Party, told PTI that his party will wait for the details of any proposal related to the UCC before finalising its stand.
Another party ally, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas),has also been non-committal, with its president and union minister Chirag Paswan recently highlighting cultural, linguistic and regional diversities across the country to wonder how everyone can be brought under one umbrella.
Last month, he had said that his party would wait for a draft on the UCC before taking a stand.
Tyagi cited JD (U) president and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s submission in 2017 to the Law Commission to make his point. Kumar had said, “Any attempt to impose a UCC without obtaining through substantive consultations the concurrence of various religious groups, especially the minorities, could lead to social friction and an erosion of faith in the constitutional guarantee of freedom of religion.”
However, the proposal for simultaneous elections, which was also staunchly advocated by Modi on Thursday, generally enjoys support among the BJP’s allies. (PTI)