UCC not needed to end discrimination, it divides country

This might be the first time in the history of independent India that the country has entered into such a farcical political discourse. We have witnessed people of all statures who have fought elections by invoking base elements of society, but no one has gone to the extent of exploiting everything to win elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is doing the same thing. His actions point to his ambition to hold power at any cost. He does not care how his actions will affect the core of our society. Everyone knows that Modi’s raising the issue of the Uniform Civil Code is aimed at polarizing voters on communal lines; however, few can comprehend that this is being done at a very dangerous point in time. We are facing challenges on every front. The economy is not able to generate hope among the vast sections of the populace, and borders are getting more insecure day by day. Of late, northeast India has been calm and peaceful. The situation has changed drastically after the ethnic and communal riots in Manipur. Contrary to the claims of the Government and the BJP, Jammu and Kashmir is showing signs of a new spate of terrorism. People are not happy in Ladakh. Attempts are being made to revive the Khalistan movement in Punjab. The government is denying the fact that the Chinese have broken into our territory at various points. The question is: why is the government ignoring these challenges?

Does it feel helpless? Can a government face with these serious challenges, both internally and externally, afford to initiate and indulge in frivolous issues such as the UCC?

It cannot be denied that we need legal reforms in personal laws to ensure that no discriminatory custom or practice should be allowed to exist. We also need to evolve legally in how we treat deviants and criminals. Everyone should be treated humanely, which should be the basis of our jurisprudence. A criminal act does not deprive a person of his rights as a citizen or human being. However, the idea of human rights is modern. The creed of nonviolence and compassion is ancient and forms the core of every religion. However, at no point in human history has it been a part of jurisprudence. Revenge and discrimination have been at the core of the law in every society. The concept of human rights has evolved with the struggle against racial, class, gender, and caste discrimination. It is still evolving. Many countries have abolished capital punishment because it goes against humanity. By doing this, they have, in fact, recognized the core Gandhian principle of fighting against evil, not against the evildoer.

It is clear that the demand for the Uniform Civil Code is not for ending discrimination. The very logic of the RSS and the BJP makes it evident. The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, also put forward the same logic in his speech at Bhopal: that a society could be governed by two laws. If we closely look into the demand for parity, it becomes clear that the claimed discrimination is nothing but propaganda. How can a personal law for Muslims affect Hindus? The claim of doing justice to Muslim women is also not true if we examine the antecedents of Hindutva's politics. How can forces that are not ready to share even a bit of prosperity and power with their fellow community members sympathize with their women? All these years, the RSS and the BJP have been alleging so-called appeasement of Muslims by Congress and other secular political parties, and now talking of the emancipation of women and Prime Minister Modi’s highlighting the woes of Pasmanda (backward caste) Muslims is also aimed at dividing Muslim votes. How can the party that has been terming Muslim rulers as invaders and depicting the medieval period of Indian history as the dark age take on the role of saviour of the community? The animosity of the RSS and the BJP to Muslims has already been seen when they demolished the Babri Masjid, defying the Supreme Court and the government of India. The desperation of Prime Minister Modi also needs some focus. Is he afraid of an electoral defeat in 2024? Does the recent debacle in Karnataka indicate an end to his two-decade rule? TV channels and newspapers may say whatever they like, but the fact is that Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the United States has been an utter disaster. The way his ministers and supporters have reacted to the statements of Obama and the question asked by Sabrina Siddiqui, the White House correspondent of the Wall Street Journal, indicates the depression in his camp. His visit has put US President Joe Biden on notice as well. The American media is very critical of his attempt to downplay the declining trends in Indian democracy. They say that the Biden administration’s ignoring the atrocities against minorities and restraints imposed on freedom of expression in India will encourage the Modi government to continue them. It looks like they are right in their observations. Anyone can see how Modi and his supporters have increased their attacks on the opposition parties. The attempt to bring the UCC should also be seen as an open defiance of what he has said in his press conference in the States.

There are also other reasons for frustration. Manipur is one of them. The attempt to mobilize the support of opposition parties has also failed because of the government’s attitude. The reality is that the government wants only cosmetic participation. The RSS and the media supporting it have made things complicated by making communal propaganda. The Hindutva forces have been organizing people in the North East on communal lines for many years now. The recent strife is the result of it. There is a complete alienation of Manipuri people. The question is could the renewed attempt at polarization help the BJP retain power in 2024?

(The author is a senior journalist. He has experience of working with leading newspapers and electronic media including Deccan Herald, Sunday Guardian, Navbharat Times and Dainik Bhaskar. He writes on politics, society, environment and economy)