Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his “communal civil code” remarks during his address on Independence Day, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that the comments were an insult to Dr BR Ambedkar, who was the greatest champion of reforms in Hindu personal law.
Jairam Ramesh also said the Law Commission appointed by the BJP-led NDA government had said in 2018 that Uniform Civil Code “is neither necessary nor desirable at this stage”.
“The non-biological PM’s capacity for malice, mischief, and maligning of history knows no bounds. It was on full display today from the Red Fort. To say that we have had a “communal civil code” till now is a gross insult to Dr Ambedkar, who was the greatest champion of reforms in Hindu personal laws that became a reality by the mid-1950s. These reforms had been bitterly opposed by the RSS and the Jan Sangh,” Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X.
“And here is what the 21st Law Commission, appointed by the non-biological PM himself, had said in Para 1.15 of its 182-page Consultation Paper on Reform of Family Law, dated August 31st, 2018: While diversity of Indian culture can and should be celebrated, specific groups or weaker sections of society must not be dis-privileged in the process. Resolution of this conflict does not mean abolition of all differences. This Commission has therefore dealt with laws that are discriminatory rather than providing a uniform civil code which is neither necessary nor desirable at this stage. Most countries are moving towards recognition of differences and the mere existence of difference does not imply discrimination, but is indicative of a robust democracy,” the Congress leader added.
In his Independence Day speech, PM Modi said a large section of people feel that the current Civil Code resembles a Communal Civil Code and it is discriminatory.
He said laws that divide the country based on religion and foster discrimination have no place in modern society and after 75 years, it is crucial to move towards a “secular civil code”.
“In our country, the Supreme Court has held discussions regarding the Uniform Civil Code and has given orders several times. A large section of the country believes, and there is truth in this that the civil code that we are living with is actually a communal civil code in a way, a discriminatory civil code,” the Prime Minister said.“I believe that there should be a discussion on this serious issue across the country…Everyone should come forward with their suggestions. I would say that it is the need of the hour that there be a Secular Civil Code in the country…We have spent 75 years in the communal civil code.