Congress on Tuesday slammed PM Narendra Modi for pushing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) instead of addressing the issues such as Manipur violence, unemployment, and price rise as the prime minister batted for the implementation of the UCC in the country. Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal said PM Modi should first talk about poverty, price rise, and unemployment in the country. Venugopal also attacked PM Modi for not speaking up on Manipur violence. “The whole state is burning,” Venugopal said.
The Congress leader said, “He [PM Modi] should first answer about poverty, price rise, and unemployment in the country. He never speaks on [the] Manipur issue, the whole state is burning. He is just distracting people from all these issues.”
WHAT DID PM MODI SAY?
PM Narendra Modi, while addressing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers under the “Mera Booth Sabse Majboot” campaign in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, asked if a country can run on two different laws. PM Modi said, “Will a family function if there are two different sets of rules for people? Then how will a country run? Our Constitution too guarantees equal rights to all people.”
PM Modi also accused the Opposition of employing vote bank politics of appeasement. He said that appeasement politics had left many people behind, including the Pasmanda Muslims.
“Pasmanda Muslims have become a victim of politics. Some people are using the politics of appeasement to break the country. If they were really supportive of Muslims the Muslim brothers would not be poor or deprived…Supreme Court has also asked for the implementation of the UCC. But these people are hungry only for vote bank,” PM Modi said.
MoS MEA V Muraleedharan said, “PM Modi specifically said that the Constitution prescribes it and the courts are in a way asking that it [Uniform Civil Code] should be implemented.”
MoS Meenakshi Lekhi meanwhile said that the UCC should be implemented so that women can get the rights they deserve. “UCC should be introduced in the country so that women get the position they deserve in the households. The Government of India will do everything possible for this. There cannot be two laws in a country,” Meenakashi Lekhi said.
HOW DID OPPOSITION REACT?
While Congress has taken a swipe at PM Narendra Modi for “not speaking” on the Manipur violence, the Janata Dal (United) accused the BJP of doing vote bank politics. Senior JD(U) leader KC Tyagi said, “All political parties and stakeholders should be engaged on the issue of the Uniform Civil Code. Only BJP does vote bank politics.”
Congress leader Tariq Anwar said, “When any law is made it is for everyone and they have to follow it. Then what is the need to discuss that bill which has already been passed? PM Modi is doing so because elections are ahead and they have done nothing for the country.”
Meanwhile, DMK leader TKS Elangovan said that the Uniform Civil Code should first be introduced in Hindu religion. “UCC should be first introduced in the Hindu religion. Every person including SC/ST should be allowed to perform pooja in any temple in the country. We don’t want UCC only because the Constitution has given protection to every religion,” TKS Elangovan said.
Another Congress leader reminded PM Modi that he has taken oath on the Constitution. “PM should remember that he has taken oath on the Constitution drafted by Dr BR Ambedkar. All sections of the country have faith in Constitution and will not allow it to change,” Arif Masood said.
Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates & Live Business News.
More
Less
Updated: 27 Jun 2023, 04:15 PM IST
