'Pro-Hindu' BJP promises common civil law in India
Whatever the opposition's stance, the BJP will be milking the UCC in the national polls with an eye on the rare third consecutive term for a serving prime minister.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) has promised to replace existing religion-based civil codes with a common law to govern marriage, adoption, divorce and inheritance norms for all Indians.
The party’s manifesto for the ongoing general election proclaims its belief that “there cannot be gender equality till such time India adopts a Uniform Civil Code [UCC], which protects the rights of all women.”
The Modi government seems to have cleverly linked the strategic poll move with women’s rights, promising that the new law will “draw upon the best traditions, harmonizing them with modern times.”
India’s diverse society has so far allowed its religious groups and large tribal populations to follow their own personal laws and customs or an optional secular code.
The UCC has been one of the three core poll promises of the BJP since its foundation on April 6, 1980. The other two — building a Ram temple in the northern town of Ayodhya and revoking the autonomy of the country’s only Muslim-majority region, Jammu and Kashmir — have already been fulfilled by the Modi government.
The party, seeking a third term under Modi's leadership in the current polls — the results of which will be known on June 4 — is now focusing on framing a national common law.
A standard personal code for all citizens in a country looks theoretically ideal. Still, in a religiously sensitive and culturally diverse country like India, the concept is more often interpreted as a sign or tool of “imposition” of a Hindu-centric uniformity.
"We are opposed to the imposition of [such] uniformity... But there are certain issues such as equality of inheritance, which have to be welcomed even by the BJP's detractors," says analyst Ashutosh Talukdar based in the northeastern state of Assam.
Some politicians in other provinces also share this view but with a warning. “If the move is seen as an infringement on the rich diversity of India, there will be issues,” said a female politician from the Christian-dominated northeastern state of Meghalaya.
Speaking anonymously, she said an inheritance law needs to understand “the traditional practices in their entirety.”
“For example, in Meghalaya, we practice matrilineal systems among Khasis and Garo tribe peoples,” she explained.
Many Muslim leaders see the UCC as interference with centuries-old Islamic practices, including polygamy and instant divorce. Some others consider a common code as “a violation of the fundamental right of religious freedom" as guaranteed in the Indian Constitution.
Christians are also opposed to the UCC, with the Federation of Catholic Associations of the Archdiocese of Delhi stating that a “united” nation need not necessarily have “uniformity.”
“The UCC should not be brought in, especially when there are large public complaints against the government and the party in power [the BJP] about unduly influencing constitutional institutions for political gain,” federation president A C Micheal said. It will not be appropriate and desirable to hurry through such a controversial issue, he told UCA News.
According to Christian social workers in the northeast, the rhetoric targeting the Muslim minority is one part of the story.
“Today, Muslims are on the receiving end; tomorrow, Christians will be targeted,” one of them said, echoing the common fear. Talukdar believes the UCC will impact Christian personal laws on delicate issues like divorce. A section of the Christian community, like the Catholic Church, does not recognize divorce.
The Christian divorce law makes a separation period of two years mandatory for any couple to get a mutual divorce, while the Succession Act of 1925 gives Christian mothers no right to the property of their deceased kids. Talukdar said these aspects must be re-examined to keep up with the times.
In the Christian-majority Nagaland state in the northeast region, the indigenous Naga tribal people follow extreme male chauvinism in certain matters despite their adopting Christianity and being English-educated. In some societies, women do not have rights to their husbands' wealth after their death; their brothers share it.
The tiny community of Parsis also have their law based on their customs and practices. Under the Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act of 1936, any woman who marries someone from another religion loses all rights to Parsi rituals and customs.
Parsis also do not recognize the rights of adoptive daughters, while an adopted son can only perform the last rites for the father.
A common civil code that accommodates the traditions of all religions in India may be impossible. However, Prime Minister Modi, if he returns to power for a third successive term, appears bent on introducing one, even if it means upsetting religious minorities.
He may face little opposition as rival parties to the BJP appear divided on the contentious issue. Media reports suggest the main opposition Congress party discussed the issue last year but stated that it would wait for a draft of the proposed UCC before taking an official stand.
Other political parties, such as the Shiv Sena in western Maharashtra state and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP or common people’s party) that rules Delhi and Punjab in the north, have in the past favored a common code.
However, they are now part of the Congress-led “India” alliance, which is challenging the BJP in the national elections.
The only clear stand appears to be taken by Nagaland’s Deputy Chief Minister T. R. Zeliang, who reportedly said in the state’s legislative assembly that Christians “have to defend their faith and beliefs,” particularly during a crisis.
Emphasizing Nagaland’s Christian majority, Zeliang assertively cited the constitutional provisions safeguarding freedom of religion.
Pope may visit India next year, says Prime Minister Modi
New Delhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an televised interview revealed that he had a productive meeting with Pope Francis during his visit to the Vatican in 2021.
,
He said during his interaction with the Pope various developmental works carried out in India were discussed. "I have extended an invitation for the Pope to visit India, possibly this will materialise next year," he said.
"When I went to Vatican (2021), I met the Holy Pope. We had long discussions and he was aware of the works
of my government. We spoke on various issues...and on many matters we were on the same board,"
the Prime Minister told Kerala's popular TV channel Asianet.
"I have invited him to visit India....Maybe he will fix his programme (for India visit) next year," Modi said.
In Oct 2021, it was reported that Pope Francis had accepted an invitation from Indian Prime Minister Modi
to visit India. This was seen as a turnaround in relations with the Vatican following the failure of negotiations for
a papal trip to the predominantly Hindu nation in 2017.
The Prime Minister had briefed the Pope about the ambitious initiatives taken by India in combating climate change
as well as India's success in administering one billion Covid-19 vaccination doses.
The Pope "appreciated" India’s assistance to countries in need during the pandemic, says Modi's personal website.
There are about 20 million Roman Catholics in India, about 1.5% of the population of 1.4 billion.
About 80% of Indian population are Hindus.
In 2016, Pope Francis was "almost sure" of visiting India the following year along with Bangladesh.
In the interview the Prime Minister said his party is committed to work "taking all communities on board".
"In Goa, our government is running there for so many years. And it is being run with the support
and help of Christian community only," the PM said adding similar experience is being felt in
northeastern Indian states as well.
"In the north east, Christians are the majority voters and we or our party have chief ministers and ministers".
Modi categorically said, "I cannot make an allegation that Christian community is not cooperating
with us...Maybe we have to work harder and we are doing so".
"In Kerala, we have Christian leaders from the booth level to the national level. Bishops and
many Christian leaders meet me probably five times in a year. Christians in Kerala are actually fed up
of the lies from the Left-led LDF and Congress-led United Democratic Front in the state and they
keep complaining against these parties whenever they meet me," Modi said.
The Prime Minister claimed Christians have complained to him that their land and properties are
in dispute in Kerala due to the alleged involvement of these parties. "They say please help us....
they want the Government of India to help them," Modi said.
"I have personally seen how Christians in Kerala are suffering...We want to help fishermen. They should
get advantages of modern technology. Their financial conditions should improve," the Prime
Minister said.
ends
No comments:
Post a Comment