The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) has been a controversial topic for many years, with some people arguing that it is necessary to ensure gender equality and religious freedom, while others argue that it would violate religious freedom and cultural diversity. The politics surrounding the UCC are complex and multifaceted. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the current ruling party in India, has made the UCC a key part of its agenda, arguing that it is necessary to create a more uniform and equitable legal system. However, the BJP has faced opposition from religious groups which have argued that the UCC would violate the religious freedom of religious minorities.
There are strong arguments on both sides of the issue, and it is not clear when or if the UCC will be implemented. However, the debate is important because it raises fundamental questions about the nature of secularism and equality in India. Some of the strong arguments in favor of the UCC are that it would ensure gender equality by providing a common set of laws for all citizens, regardless of their gender, and that it would create a more uniform and equitable legal system by eliminating the disparities that exist between different personal laws. On the other hand, detractors argue that the UCC would violate the religious freedom of religious minorities. It is also argued that the UCC would be divisive and could lead to communal violence.
The BJP’s push for a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is a complex issue with no easy answers, and it is not clear whether the BJP is genuinely committed to implementing the UCC or whether it is simply using the issue as a political gimmick. On the one hand, the BJP has a long history of supporting the UCC. The party’s manifesto has included a commitment to the UCC since the 1980s, and the party’s current leadership has repeatedly stated its intention to implement the UCC. Additionally, the BJP has a strong base of support among Hindu voters, many of whom believe that the UCC is necessary to ensure gender equality and religious freedom. On the other hand, there are some reasons to doubt the BJP’s commitment to the UCC. The party has not yet introduced any legislation to implement the UCC, and it has faced opposition from religious minority groups. Additionally, the BJP has been accused of using the UCC as a political tool to divide Hindus and Muslims.
With Lok Sabha elections due in 2024 and the BJP rapidly losing its popularity, the BJP’s recent push for UCC could be a gimmick to distract the public conscience from its humiliating defeat in the recent Karnataka elections and the Manipur crisis. Interestingly, Amit Shah has told the Nagaland government delegation that Christians and some tribal areas would be exempted from the UCC purview which has raised many eyebrows. Only time will tell whether the BJP’s push for the UCC is a genuine commitment or a political gimmick.