One Nation, One Election, Uniform Civil Code Soon, Says PM Modi; Kharge Calls It 'Impossible'

On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid floral tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his 149th birth anniversary at the Statue of Unity in Gujarat.

A grand event took place for the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas celebrations, which is held annually on October 31 to honour Patel's birth anniversary. PM Modi is currently on a two-day visit to Gujarat.

Photo Credit: PTI

Visuals captured the Prime Minister attending the Unity of Parade Ground in Kevadia, Gujarat.

"This time the National Unity Day has brought a wonderful coincidence. On one hand, today we are celebrating the festival of unity, and on the other, it is also Deepawali," PM Modi remarked.

He added that the festival of lights not only "illuminates the country" but is increasingly connecting India with the wider world. His comments followed US President Joe Biden's Diwali celebration at the White House on Wednesday with over 600 notable Indian Americans present.

"It (Diwali) is being celebrated as a national festival in many countries," he noted.

'One Nation, One Election' to be implemented soon: Modi

The Prime Minister reiterated the Centre's commitment to its 'One Nation, One Election' initiative, designed to synchronise all elections in the country on either a single day or within a set timeframe.

The proposal, approved by the cabinet earlier this year, is expected to be tabled in the Winter Session of Parliament later this year.

"We are now working towards 'One Nation, One Election,' which will strengthen India's democracy, optimise the outcome of India's resources, and drive new momentum towards a developed India. Today, India is moving towards 'One Nation, One Civil Code,' which is a secular civil code," he stated.

Article 370 "Buried Forever"

Discussing the 2019 abrogation of Article 370, PM Modi declared that it has been "buried forever." Criticising the opposition, he suggested that those who uphold the Constitution often fail to respect it fully.

"This is my biggest tribute to Sardar Saheb. For 70 years, Baba Saheb Ambedkar's Constitution was not implemented in the entire country. Those who chant the name of the Constitution have insulted it so much. The reason was the wall of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. Article 370 has been buried forever," he asserted.

The PM also highlighted that many threats to national security have been neutralised during the last 10 years under his government's leadership. "Terrorists' 'masters' now know that harming India won't yield results, as India won't spare them," he said.

He claimed that several longstanding issues in the northeastern regions of the country have been addressed through "dialogue, trust, and development."

"The Bodo and Bru-Reang agreements have established peace and stability. The National Liberation Front of Tripura's accord has ended long-standing unrest. India is moving forward with peace, development, and prosperity. We have resolved the border dispute between Assam and Meghalaya to a large extent," he explained.

PM Modi remarked that, despite growing tensions between many countries globally, India is forming strong ties internationally.

Highlighting the alertness and sensitivity of Indian citizens, he said, "It is not normal for India to emerge as a vishwabandhu when there is a crisis of relations in different countries of the world. When the distance between one country and another is increasing in the world, then the countries of the world are getting closer to India. This is not normal; this is a new history being created. Today, the world is seeing how India is solving its problems with determination," he said.

Mallikarjun Kharge reacts

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge slammed PM Modi's remark on UCC and ONOE. Kharge called it 'impossible'.

"What PM Modi has said, he will not do it, because when it comes in the Parliament, he has to take everybody into confidence then only this will happen. This is impossible, 'One Nation One Election' is impossible..."

(With ANI inputs)