Aam Aadmi Party Backs Uniform Civil Code

A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a pitch for the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday extended its support for the proposed legislation.

However, the AAP said that the Centre should bring it with a consensus after extensive consultations with stakeholders. "The government should hold extensive consultations on the proposal with all stakeholders, including political parties and non-political entities," PTI quoted AAP national general secretary (organisation) Sandeep Pathak as saying.

"The Aam Aadmi Party supports UCC in principle. Article 44 (of the Constitution) also supports it," Mr Pathak told the news agency. But the government should bring in Uniform Civil Code only when there is a consensus among the stakeholders, he pointed out. "We believe that on such issues we should go ahead with consensus. We believe that this (UCC) should be implemented only after there is a consensus among all the stakeholders," Pathak said.

Speaking to India Today, the AAP leader slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of bringing up such complicated issues only during polls.

"It is a part of the BJP's style of functioning that whenever elections approach, they bring up complicated and complex issues. The BJP has no interest in implementing the UCC or resolving this issue. The BJP only creates a state of confusion so that divisions can be created in the country, and then elections can be fought," India Today quoted him as saying.

At an event in Madhya Pradesh, the PM made a strong appeal for the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and for the abolition of triple talaq, in the poll-bound state.

"If there is one law for one member in a house, another law for another, then how will such a house work with such dualities in law? Similarly, how will the country work? We have to remember that in the Constitution as well there is mention of uniform law for all citizens. The Supreme Court has time and again mentioned to implement the Uniform Civil Code, but those hungry for votebank oppose it," the Prime Minister said after flagging off five Vande Bharat trains.