Assam UCC debate: Gaurav Gogoi questions BJP’s commitment to equality

Guwahati, May 13 (IANS) Assam Congress President and Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party over the issue of the Uniform Civil Code, alleging that the ruling party was using the constitutional provision for political polarisation rather than promoting equality and justice.

Speaking to reporters here, Gogoi questioned the Bharatiya Janata Party’s commitment to equal rights and equal treatment for citizens, claiming that the party does not genuinely believe in “uniformity” in governance or social justice.

“Does the Bharatiya Janata Party believe in equality? Does the Bharatiya Janata Party give respect to all citizens of India? Does the Bharatiya Janata Party provide equal rights and equal security to citizens? The reality is that the Bharatiya Janata Party does not believe in uniform rights, uniform respect or equality,” the Congress leader said.

Referring to the constitutional mention of the Uniform Civil Code under the Directive Principles of State Policy, Gogoi said the Bharatiya Janata Party was attempting to misuse a constitutional concept for divisive political purposes.

“Although the Uniform Civil Code is mentioned in the Directive Principles of the Constitution, the Bharatiya Janata Party wants to misuse this constitutional idea to further its politics of division and polarisation in society,” he alleged.

The Congress MP further claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party raises the issue of the Uniform Civil Code across different states not to ensure justice, but to deepen social and political fault lines.

“The Bharatiya Janata Party talks about the Uniform Civil Code in various states from the perspective of social division and political polarisation. Instead of creating harmony and equal opportunity, the party is trying to use the issue to divide communities,” Gogoi said.

His remarks came amid renewed discussions on the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code in Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled states, including Assam, where the state government has recently indicated that it has begun preliminary work on the matter.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has consistently maintained that the Uniform Civil Code is aimed at ensuring equal laws for all citizens irrespective of religion and is in line with the constitutional vision of equality and justice.

Opposition parties, however, have accused the ruling party of using the issue for electoral gains and targeting minority communities.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday announced that the upcoming session of the Assam Legislative Assembly will begin on May 21, with the state government set to introduce the Uniform Civil Code Bill in the House on May 26.

Addressing reporters after the first Cabinet meeting of his second-term government held at Koinadhara in Guwahati, Sarma said that tribal communities in the state would remain outside the purview of the proposed Uniform Civil Code legislation.

“The Assembly session will commence on May 21, and the Uniform Civil Code Bill will be introduced on May 26. Tribal people will be exempted from the ambit of the proposed law,” the Chief Minister said.

--IANS

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