Uniform civil code will divide the country on communal lines: Congress

The Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiv Sena on Saturday strongly advocated the need for a uniform civil code in the country, even as Congress and Left MPs cautioned against the use of force in its implementation.

The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 1996, introduced by the BJP's Bhagwan Shankar Rawat in the Lok Sabha seeks to make civil laws common to all citizens throughout the country.

While the Shiv Sena's Mohan Rawale said a large number of Muslim countries have introduced similar codes and the Bill would bring great relief to the Muslim women here, Hannan Mollah of the Communist Party of India-Marxist argued it would create more problems for the Muslims.

Congress leader Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi said the code could not be implemented in the present circumstances as the country's priorities were different. The implementation of such a code will divide the nation on communal lines, he warned.

BJP member Rasa Singh Rawat said there should be common laws relating to marriage, divorce and inheritance for all citizens in the country.

The Bahujan Samaj Party's objection was that the Bill was part of the 'vote capturing politics' and, therefore, bound to create ill-will and hatred among the different sections of Indian society.

UNI