Uniform Civil Code and ‘One Nation, One Election’ to be implemented next term: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated that a Uniform Civil Code will be implemented nationwide within the next five years, following extensive consultations with all stakeholders, if the BJP returns to power.

In an extensive interview with PTI, Mr. Shah stated that the time has come for the national elections to be held concurrently and that the Modi government will adopt “One Nation, One Election” in its subsequent term.

The top BJP official went on to say that the concurrent polls will save expenses.

When asked if the current elections, which are being held in the sweltering heat, may be moved to the winter or another time of the year, Mr. Shah replied, “We can think over it.” It is possible if we preempt one election. It ought to be completed. Also, this is when students take their holiday. It also causes a great deal of issues. The Lok Sabha election was progressively shifted to this time of year (the summer) over time.” Mr. Shah stated, “The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is a responsibility left to us, our Parliament, and the state legislatures of our country since independence by the makers of our Constitution.”

The Uniform Civil Code is one of the guiding concepts that the Constituent Assembly settled upon for us. Furthermore, legal experts like K M Munshi, Rajendra Babu, and Ambedkar Ji had already stated at the time that legislation in a secular nation shouldn’t be based on religion. A Uniform Civil Code need to exist,” he declared.

BJP’s Agenda for Uniform Civil Code:

As a topic of both the States and the Centre, the Union Home Minister claimed that the BJP has conducted an experiment in Uttarakhand, where it has a majority administration.

Since the 1950s, the UCC has been on the BJP’s agenda, and Uttarakhand, which is ruled by the party, just passed it. “The Uniform Civil Code, in my opinion, is a significant social, legal, and religious reform. The Uttarakhand government’s legislation needs to be examined from a legal and social perspective. It is important to involve religious leaders as well,” he stated.

What I mean is that there should be an extensive debate on this. And if there is anything to change in the model law made by the Uttarakhand government after this extensive debate. Because someone will definitely go to court. The judiciary’s opinion will also come.

“After that, the state legislatures and Parliament of the country should think seriously over this and a law must be enacted. That is why we have written in our ‘sankalp patra’ that the BJP aims to have a Uniform Civil Code for the entire country,” he said.

Shah responded, “It will be done in this period only,” when asked if it could be completed in the upcoming five years. “Five years are a sufficient period,” he stated.

Mr. Shah stated, “We will also make every effort to achieve ‘One Nation, One Election,'” in response to a question on simultaneous polls. This warrants discussion as well.” “The Ram Nath Kovind committee was established by the prime minister. And I was one of its members. The report has been turned in. The nation should hold simultaneous elections at this time,” he continued.

Asked whether a bill on this can be introduced in the next session if the BJP returns to power, Mr. Shah said, “Our resolution is for five years. We will bring it during this period.” In its manifesto for the ongoing Lok Sabha polls, the BJP has said that Article 44 of the Constitution lists Uniform Civil Code as one of the Directive Principles of State Policy.

“BJP believes that there cannot be gender equality till such time Bharat adopts a Uniform Civil Code, which protects the rights of all women, and the BJP reiterates its stand to draw a Uniform Civil Code, drawing upon the best traditions and harmonising them with the modern times,” the manifesto has said.

On ‘One Nation, One Election’, the BJP manifesto mentioned that the Modi government had set up a high-powered Committee to examine the issues of conducting simultaneous elections and it will work towards the implementation of the recommendations of the committee.

Mr. Shah blasted the opposition’s criticism of the Election Commission as a ruse to hide its coming defeat and declared that the BJP will gain more seats in States controlled by the opposition as a result of a “positive mandate” for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Lok Sabha elections.

In a PTI interview, Mr. Shah asserted that his party has not engaged in any religion-based campaigning. However, he emphasised that if advocating against Muslim reservation and educating voters about the repeal of Article 370 and the establishment of a Uniform Civil Code constitutes a religion-based campaign, then the BJP has engaged in it and will persist in doing so.

He dismissed the opposition’s criticism of the Election Commission for its handling of poll data and the issue of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), saying that similar protocols and practices have been followed in previous assembly polls, including Telangana, West Bengal and Himachal Pradesh where the BJP lost.

“If those elections were fair, then this election is also fair. When you see defeat, you start crying in advance and try to find excuses to go abroad. This can’t go on and on. They want to go on vacation on June 6. So, they are telling something or the other,” he said.

He added that the purpose of Congress’s inquiries over the voting procedure is to conceal Rahul Gandhi’s defeat.

According to Mr. Shah, at the regular all-party conference organised by the poll watchdog prior to the polls, the opposition party had not made any such request. “The opposition always raises some concerns after losing an election. They want an election that can be rigged even though there is no chance of tampering in electronic voting machines. With six phases of the seven-phase Lok Sabha polls over, the BJP’s senior strategist claimed the party’s assertion that its alliance will cross the 400-seat threshold when the poll results are released on June 4 is not only a poll slogan but a fully thought-out target.

He said, “We will surely cross 400 seats. We will also form governments in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh.” Assembly polls in the three states have been held alongside the Lok Sabha elections.

“If we get 399 seats and you say we have not crossed 400, then it is your wisdom. But the ‘400 paar’ slogan is based on calculation and considered opinion,” Mr. Shah said in his characteristic combative and sure-footed manner.

Asked if the party was overly dependent on Mr. Modi and if a relatively weak opposition was benefitting from its alliance, he said it was not a negative but a positive vote which the ruling alliance is receiving.

“This is not a negative vote. Please accept one thing. This is a positive vote. We will get people’s support where (in States) we are in power. And mark my words…where we are not, we will be getting a bigger mandate. So this is a positive mandate for the work of the central government,” he said.

The BJP’s major ideological goals—the welfare of the poor, national security, repeal of Article 370, uniform laws (UCC) throughout the nation, women’s reservation, and the construction of a Ram temple—have all been realised under Mr. Modi, and as such, the BJP has inevitably benefited from his popularity, he continued. He’s the biggest leader we have. Accusing the main opposition party of lying to the public over Muslim reservation, he insisted that the BJP has already imposed a religious quota in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, making its charge that the party has been lying hollow.

He defended Mr. Modi’s vicious criticism by saying, “If they divide the truth in pieces to mislead people, then isn’t it our duty to put these pieces together and inform people?”

“You might have heard and understood Rahul Gandhi’s X-ray speech. So you want X-ray of what? And if you want to distribute it equally, then who will you distribute to? Manmohan Singh Ji said minorities are their priority. What do you make of this,” he asked when questioned about the Congress’s allegations against Mr. Modi.

When asked about the Congress’s pledge to provide ₹1 lakh to women from low-income families, he responded that the party had a track record of making populist promises in an attempt to win over voters but never following through on them.

“They are in power in two or three states,” Mr. Shah stated. At the very least, they ought to keep their word there. Give the Rs 1,500 that you promised at least. (in Himachal Pradesh). Who is going to believe them? He projected that the BJP would win between 24 and 30 seats in West Bengal and 16–17 seats in Odisha, the states where the ruling party is hoping to make significant gains. In Andhra Pradesh, its alliance is expected to win close to 17 seats. There are 42, 21, and 25 Lok Sabha seats across the three states, in that order.

According to Mr. Shah, the BJP is expected to win 75 seats in the 147-member House and secure its first majority in the Odisha assembly. He added that the alliance would also quickly seize power in Andhra.

People are upset with the Mamata Banerjee-led administration over concerns of infiltration, corruption, and the smuggling of coal and cows. He added that the Sandeshkhali controversy has shown how far she will go in her appeasement tactics.

According to Shah, the BJP will undoubtedly gain more votes in the Dravidian state of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, where PM Modi is leading the party’s campaign. recent are two states where the party hasn’t been able to advance very far in recent polls.

He said, “It is a very tight contest. We have a new team. I will not make an estimate with figures. But our seats and vote share will increase and we will certainly lay a strong foundation in Tamil Nadu. We can open our account in Kerala. We are in a good position in three seats.”

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