BJP MP urges Centre to bring a law soon to implement a Uniform Civil Code

New Delhi, Dec 2: In what could be the next agenda of the ruling government, BJP member Nishikant Dubey has urged the Centre to bring a law soon to implement a Uniform Civil Code in the country.

 

Raising the issue during the Zero Hour in Lok Sabha, Dubey said the Allahabad High Court had last month asked the Centre to consider setting up a panel for implementing the mandate of Article 44 of the Constitution, which speaks about a Uniform Civil Code for the citizens throughout the territory of India. "Even after 75 years of Independence, we have not been able to bring in a Uniform Civil Code. I urge the government to soon bring a law to implement a Uniform Civil Code," he said.

 

 

The Uniform Civil Code is figured as one of the promises made in the BJP manifesto ahead of the 2019 parliamentary elections.“Article 44 of the Constitution of India lists Uniform Civil Code as one of the Directive Principles of State Policy. The BJP believes that there cannot be gender equality till such time India adopts a Uniform Civil Code, which protects the rights of all women, and the BJP reiterates its stand to draw a Uniform Civil Code, drawing upon the best traditions and harmonizing them with the modern times,” the manifesto said.

 

On the other hand, speaking during the Zero Hour, Congress MP from Kerala Shashi Tharoor raised the issue of non-subsidised kerosene given to the southern state through the Public Distribution System (PDS). He urged the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to increase the allocation of non-subsidised PDS kerosene to Kerala to help the fishermen community.

 

Satyadev Pachauri, BJP MP from Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh), raised the issue of the lack of usage of Hindi in higher courts. He said that at the time of Independence, the makers of the Constitution had deliberated on the issue of the use of language in courts and decided that for some time the higher courts would continue to use English. However, they also provided for usage of Hindi or other local languages as directed by Parliament.