Indore (Madhya Pradesh) [India], January 27 : Reacting to Uniform Civil Code to be implemented in Uttarakhand from today, Congress MP Kumari Selja took a potshot at the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) and the BJP-led Uttarakhand government saying the government tries to divide people and the UCC is a part of that.
"People's rights should not be snatched away. Everyone is equal, but our constitution also talks about protecting the rights of everyone. This government tries to divide people and this is also a part of that," Selja told ANI.
Congress' ally in the INDIA block however has backed the implementation of the UCC in Uttarakhand.
Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Anand Dubey said, "Uniform Civil Code is a good thing. It provides uniform rights to all citizens. This does not create any discrimination among religions...The law in country should run in accordance with the Constitution drafted by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. So, we feel that people should take more interest in UCC. We will have to understand that UCC is not against anyone. We don't think that there should be any controversy over UCC. It should not be linked to caste or religion...We welcome it."
Notably, Uttarakhand is set to become the first state to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) today (January 27).
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that the implementation of UCC will bring uniformity in all laws relating to personal civil matters that discriminate on the basis of caste, religion, gender, etc, adding that all the necessary preparations have been completed to implement UCC, including approval of the rules of the Act and training of the concerned officials.
Taking to X, CM Dhami wrote, "Dear residents of the state, The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) will be implemented in the state from January 27, 2025, making Uttarakhand the first state in independent India where this law will come into effect. All the necessary preparations have been completed to implement UCC, which includes approval of the rules of the Act and training of the concerned officials. UCC will bring uniformity in the society and ensure equal rights and responsibilities for all citizens. Uniform Civil Code is just an offering made by our state in the great yagya being done by the Prime Minister to make the country a developed, organized, harmonious and self-reliant nation. Under the Uniform Civil Code, an attempt has been made to bring uniformity in all laws relating to personal civil matters that discriminate on the basis of caste, religion, sex etc."
The Uttarakhand government will implement the Uttarakhand Uniform Civil Code Act, 2024, today establishing a streamlined framework for the creation and cancellation of wills and supplementary documents, known as codicils, under testamentary succession. According to the state government, this act applies to the entire area of the state of Uttarakhand and is also effective on the residents of the state living outside Uttarakhand.
The UCC applies to all residents of Uttarakhand, except Scheduled Tribes and protected authority-empowered persons and communities. Uttarakhand has become the first state in India to implement a Uniform Civil Code (UCC), aiming to simplify and standardize personal laws related to marriage, divorce, succession, and inheritance.