BJP's Ally AIADMK Opposes Uniform Civil Code

In a setback to the BJP, its ally AIADMK has urged the Centre not to bring any amendments to the constitution for a Uniform Civil Code UCC) that will adversely affect the religious rights of minorities of India.

After the National People's Party, this is the second major ally of the BJP to express reservation over the proposed UCC. Earlier, the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), another ally of the BJP in Nagaland, raised its objections to the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code.

"Our stand on the Uniform Civil Code is the same as that of the 2019 Election Manifesto. We have explained everything there briefly," AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi Palaniswami said at a press meet.

The UCC refers to a common set of laws that are applicable to all citizens of India that is not based on religion and dealing with marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption among other personal matters.

However, Goa is the only state in India that has a uniform civil code. It has been following the Portuguese Civil Code 1867, which is also called Uniform Civil Code. After its liberation from Portuguese rule, the UCC survived through Section 5(1) of the Goa, Daman and Diu Administration Act, 1962.

While addressing BJP workers in Bhopal last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a strong push for it, asking how can the country function with dual laws that govern personal matters, and accused the Opposition of using the issue to "mislead and provoke" the Muslim community.

BJP-ruled Uttarakhand is already in the process of implementing its common code.

The debate over a uniform family law for all citizens in the country was revived after the Law Commission recently sought opinion from the public and intellectual on the matter.