Private members’ bill needs the backing of the government to get passed in the Parliament.
Clarion India
NEW DELHI — The introduction of private member bill suggesting the implementation of Uniform Civil Code (UCC) across the country met with strong opposition in Rajya Sabha on Friday.
The bill was introduced by BJP member Kirodi Lal Meena amid vociferous protests.
The Congress, Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, and the DMK staged protests while the Biju Janata Dal walked out of the House, reports IANS.
A total of 63 members voted for the bill while 23 votes were against it.
Many Opposition members from Congress, Trinamool Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) were not present during the discussion and at the time of voting.
According to the report, the Opposition members requested the BJP member Kirodi Lal Meena to withdraw the Bill and also asked Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar to not accept the legislation as it will destroy the secular fabric of the country.
The Hindu reported that MDMK’s Vaiko, opposing the bill, charged at the treasury benches saying “patriotism is not the monopoly of you people.”
“You may have majority, they are implementing the agenda of RSS. They have finished Kashmir…we are leading towards disaster and disintegration of the country, minorities are terribly hurt, kindly see that the bill is not introduced today. It is a day of shame and sorrow that we have to go through this,” Mr. Vaiko said.
IUML’s Abdul Wahab said this was a deliberate provocation and it cannot be implemented in India. “This is not a criminal code, everywhere intolerance is there…this is not in benefit of nation, take back this bill,” he said.
The UCC has been in the BJP manifesto for many elections while the private member bill was pending but was not introduced.
The UCC is a proposed law to formulate and implement personal laws of citizens which would apply to all citizens regardless of their religion, gender or sexual orientation.
Private members’ bill needs the backing of the government to get passed in the Parliament.
