BJP to implement UCC in all states, says Shah in Parl

Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday asserted that the BJP would implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in all states.

Replying to the debate on the “Glorious Journey of 75 Years of the Constitution of India” in the Rajya Sabha, Shah said the BJP government in Uttarakhand had already introduced the UCC for all communities and gradually it would be implemented in all states.

Making light of the Congress’ promise to enhance reservation for the backward classes, Shah claimed the party wanted to breach the 50 per cent limit to provide a quota based on religion.

Shah claimed the Kaka Kalelkar Commission report on the backward classes was presented in 1955, but it was never brought before the Cabinet by the Congress, which was in power then, because it did not want reservation for backward classes.

Similarly, the Mandal Commission report, which recommended reservation for OBCs, was also not implemented by the Congress, Shah said. When the VP Singh government adopted the report, Congress leader Rajiv Gandhi gave a long speech in the House opposing its implementation, he said.

“The BJP will oppose the policy of religion-based reservation tooth and nail,” he said.

Accusing the Congress of following a policy of appeasement with regard to Muslims, Shah said it first started when the party decided that Muslims should have a separate personal law in accordance with the Sharia. Shah said while Sharia was followed for personal law of Muslims but no separate Sharia-based criminal law was framed for them.

He said the BJP was not interested in any law based on ancient Hindu codes and would like the laws to meet the requirement of the contemporary society. Citing the 39th Constitution amendment by the Congress regime in 1975, Shah said it was done to put the election of then PM Indira Gandhi outside the ambit of court scrutiny.