PrashantNews
After the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) came into effect on Jan 27 in Uttarakhand, the main opposition Congress has started opposing the measure tooth and nail inside and outside the state assembly.
State Congress President Karan Mahra on Tuesday said the party would launch an agitation and also gherao the Vidhan Sabha on Feb 20 on the UCC’s various provisions including the controversial live-in relations which he said were against the spirit and cultural sanctity of Uttarakhand. He said a “state-wide movement” would also be launched by the party on the issue to gather opinions of the common people.
Mahra claimed that a controversial provision of the UCC stipulates that persons residing in Uttarakhand for just one year will be considered residents of the state. In contradiction, people are demanding a cut-off date to define domicile in the state, he said.
In Vidhan Sabha, the leader of the opposition Yashpal Arya along with other Congress MLAs raked up the UCC issue and staged a noisy walkout.
At a ceremony held at his official residence in Dehradun, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had launched the UCC notification electronically, inaugurated the UCC portal (ucc.uk.gov.in), and released the UCC Rulebook on January 27. Dhami later said Jan 27 was historic not only for Uttarakhand but for the entire nation as his government on this day had implemented the UCC. He emphasized that the UCC has been introduced to establish equality in society, making Uttarakhand the first state in India to implement this legal provision.
Much before the UCC came into effect in the hill state, an expert committee drafted the provision after consulting 2.35 lakh individuals.
The CM in his public speeches has stated that the implementation of the UCC would ensure equal constitutional and civil rights for all citizens, including women of all religions.
Fulfilled Promise
During the launch of the UCC, the CM recalled that during the Uttarakhand Assembly elections 2022, he had promised to implement the UCC. Despite skepticism, he was confident that the people of Uttarakhand would support this initiative through a positive vote. After forming the government in 2022, the first decision taken by the Dhami government was to implement the UCC.
The Chief Minister explained that the UCC is a constitutional measure aimed at eliminating legal discrimination based on caste, religion, or gender. It ensures equal rights for all citizens, promotes women’s safety and empowerment, and prohibits practices like halala, triple talaq, and iddat. Scheduled Tribes listed under Article 342 of the Constitution are exempted to protect their customs.