Senior BJP leader and former Union Cabinet Minister Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi today said here that the Congress should make their stand on the UCC clear, whether they are with “Mulk” (country) or the Muslim League; “social reforms or communal rifts”? Because, instead of social empowerment, the Congress has always been interested in “communal exploitation”.

Addressing a press conference at BJP office in Kasaragod, Shri Naqvi said that it is high time that Uniform Civil Code is made free from “captivity of canny communal champions”.

Shri Naqvi said that from the Constituent Assembly to the Parliament, from the streets to the civil society to the Supreme Court; the demand and need for a Uniform Civil Code was raised on several occasions during the last about seven decades.

Shri Naqvi said that however, every effort to implement this progressive and inclusive law was aborted as the communal confusion, conflict and commotion dominated the constitutional commitment. Instead of becoming a part of the Constitution, the UCC remained a part of the Directive Principles of the State.

Shri Naqvi said that with the fresh commencement of much needed national debate on the Uniform Civil Code by the Law Commission, the “cunning champions of communal confusion on inclusive social reforms” have again started their prejudiced political propaganda against the UCC by terming it an encroachment on religious beliefs and practices.

Shri Naqvi said that afraid of the success of various inclusive reforms that took place under the Modi Government, the “syndicate of sophistry” is trying to create confrontation and confusion in the society by branding the UCC an attack on religious beliefs and practices of the Minority communities. These all are fallacious arguments. The UCC has nothing to do with religious beliefs, it will make the nation free from “web of different civil laws”.

Shri Naqvi said that it is the need of the hour that a consensus is built among the political parties, religious leaders, organisations and other stakeholders on the Uniform Civil Code so that India, having religious, social and cultural diversity, becomes an ideal for the entire world.

Shri Naqvi said that as the country has entered into the Amrit Kaal, hopefully the current deliberation will result in a consensus on the Uniform Civil Code. This 'Amrit' of the UCC can become the most precious gift of the Amrit Kaal. The UCC is an indication of a progressive nation and reformist society. The UCC will also prove to be a milestone towards equality and justice for every section especially women and also their social and economic empowerment.

On his three-day Kerala visit under the “Sampark Se Samarthan” campaign, Shri Naqvi today participated in various programmes in Kasaragod and Kannur. Shri Naqvi performed Yoga along with a large number of people at Kasaragod on the occasion of International Yoga Day, he also participated in Tiffin Breakfast. Shri Naqvi met freedom fighter and Padma Shree Shri Appukuttan Poduval at Payyannur in Kannur, he participated in Vyapari Samagam and also addressed a public meeting at Iritty.