PM Modi's Uniform Civil Code has struck one target: It has exposed the inherent divisions in Opposition camp

A simple thing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Uniform Civil Code card has achieved is it has triggered the debate on the nationwide and in the process exposed the division among the opposition parties.

  

Firstly, Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party has said it is not opposed to the UCC. 

Aam Aadmi Party general secretary Sandeep Pathak said, his party supports uniform civil code “in principle”. Another vocal leader Sanjay Singh tried to cover up and said the Centre must first reveal details of the bill and hold a discussion with all parties,

The fact of the matter is only Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM, Farooq Abdullah’s National Conference, The Indian Union of Muslim League and Mehbooba Mufti’s PDP, are in a position where they can oppose the concept. Others are not in a position to take a stand so easily or openly.

The Modi's UCC card has unleashed a new kind of challenge --- if these parties oppose UCC, they run the risk of losing Hindu votes, and if they support UCC, they may have to face the anguish of Muslim voters as well some Christian voters.

So a clever refrain is, let the Centre come with the draft bill first. Even Congress leader P Chidambaram says the UCC is desirable but cannot be imposed.

"A UCC is an aspiration. It cannot be forced on the people by an agenda-driven majoritarian government," he wrote in a tweet message. 

The former Home Minister and Finance Minister also tweeted, "A family is knit together by blood relationships.  A nation is brought together by a Constitution which is a political-legal document. Even in a family there is diversity. 

The Constitution of India recognised diversity and plurality among the people of India....The Hon'ble PM is making it appear that UCC is a simple exercise. He should read the report of the last Law Commission that pointed out it was not feasible at this time."

Among other parties NCP working president Praful Patel said, his party does not oppose UCC, but the Centre should come with the details first.

Top Muslim ulema, including those from All India Muslim Personal Law Board and Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind have already opposed UCC bu they too are caught in a dilemma as they know the issue could ensure Hindu polarisation in favour of BJP.

"The emphatic manner in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi pushed the uniform civil code issue on Tuesday, is indicative that the government has already made up its mind on UCC. Parliament’s monsoon session may begin on July 17, and if the government introduces a draft bill on UCC, Congress and other opposition parties will be caught in a bind," says senior journalist and TV anchor Rajat Sharma. 

Of course, Modi's Kashmir bill in August 2019 seeking abrogation of Art 370 created major fissures in the opposition camp. Some parties were compelled to support and leaders such as Bhubaneswar Kalita (from Assam) decided to quit the Congress party.  Thus this time, too, Modi may force the opposition parties to fall in line.

Uniform Civil Code was BJP's third mega promise to the people of India since the inception of 'Hindutva-based nationalistic' politics of Jana Sangh. The two other promises were a grand Ram Temple at Ayodhya - the birthplace of God Ram and secondly, the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.