A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a compelling case for a uniform civil code, the Aam Aadmi Party broke from the opposition rank to offer "in principle" support for the idea, citing Article 44 of the Constitution. Congress, however, denounced the move as a ploy by an "agenda-driven majoritarian government" to deflect attention from its failures.
AAP distinguished itself from the opposition parties, which opposed the concept of UCC itself, despite the fact that it qualified its support by highlighting the necessity for consultations and consensus. Former NDA member Shiromani Akali Dal also opposed UCC, claiming it will have an effect on tribal people and minorities. DMK, JD(U), NCP and IUML attacked the PM, although AIADMK withheld its response. NCP also said such decisions should not be rushed through.
“AAP supports UCC in principle because even Article 44 (of the Constitution) supports the idea of a UCC. But the government should bring in UCC only when there is a consensus among stakeholders," the party’s national general secretary (organisation) and Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak said on a day when Law Commission chairman Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi (Retd) said 850,000 responses had been submitted since the commission sought public consultation on the fraught issue on June 14. Taking a contrasting stand, Congress functionary P Chidambaram said UCC could not be forced on people as it would “widen divisions”. He claimed the PM was batting for it only to divert attention from the government’s failures and accused BJP of using UCC to polarise society ahead of the 2024 elections.
He tweeted that it was intended to “divert attention from inflation, unemployment, hate crimes, discrimination and denying states' rights. The Constitution of India recognises diversity and plurality among the people of India,” he said.