New Delhi: If the Congress and other opposition parties decide not to stall the proceedings, the Monsoon Session of Parliament scheduled to begin from July 20 promises to generate a lot of heat as the government proposes to introduce the Uniform Civil Code bill. The session will continue till August 11. Though all opposition parties could not come to any unanimity regarding forming a front against the BJP-led NDA government at the Patna meeting and in fact more fissures appeared, the Congress party feels that there should be some floor coordination with like-minded parties to raise its apprehensions on issue regarding UCC and the central ordinance which sought to take control of Delhi’s bureaucracy and seek clarifications. Sources say that efforts to have floor coordination has begun. The AICC strategy committee, which met in Delhi on Saturday, discussed its stand on the Uniform Civil Code and the central ordinance which would be placed before the Parliament for ratification. Opposition parties specially the AAP has been claiming that it amounts to skirting a Supreme Court verdict. On the other hand, the BJP’s top leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah attended a crucial meeting of the party chaired by party president J P Nadda where the discussion on the UCC and to bring a bill to replace the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance were discussed. The saffron party has already reached out to all its friendly parties to garner support to pass the UCC bill and the bill to regularise the ordinance in both the houses of Parliament. The government would also introduce the National Research Foundation Bill, cleared by the Union Cabinet during the session. The proposed foundation will be a new funding agency to bolster the country’s research competence in areas of science and technology. Meanwhile, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi on Saturday urged political parties to contribute towards productive discussions during the session. The Monsoon Session is expected to commence in the old Parliament building and later move to the new building, sources said. The new building was inaugurated by Modi on May 28. The session will be spread across 23 days and will have 17 sittings, he said in another tweet in Hindi.
Tag: Uniform Civil Code
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Maharashtra Congress Sets Up 9-member Committee To Study Impact Of Uniform Civil Code
The Maharashtra Congress on Thursday set up a committee under former Mumbai University vice chancellor Balchandra Mungekar to study the impact of the proposed Uniform Civil Code.
The nine-member committee set up by state unit chief Nana Patole will also include journalist and Rajya Sabha member Kumar Ketkar, senior leaders Vasant Purke, Hussain Dalwai, Anees Ahmed, Kishori Gajbhiye, Amarjit Manhas, Janet D’Souza and Ravi Jadhav.
The Maharashtra Congress, in a statement, said Muslim, Christian and Parsi communities have their own personal laws while Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists are governed by Hindu Civil Law.
“The UCC is not connected to any religion and it will cover all citizens. South India, eastern India and tribal areas have their own rules related to marriage and inheritance. Minorities consider Uniform Civil Code as interference in their religious matters. Different religious communities have their own views on the UCC,” the statement added.
It said the committee under former MP Mungekar will study the impact of the proposed law on society and submit its report to Patole.
The UCC took centre stage of the political debate in the country after Prime Minister Narendra Modi pushed for its implementation while speaking in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday. The PM sought to know how one country could have two systems and said even the Supreme Court has advocated for a UCC.