JE News Desk: The Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Friday expressed his views on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and claimed that it is against the idea of India. While addressing a press conference in Shillong, the National People's Party supremo stressed that diversity is the strength of India.
"NPP feels that UCC will go against the idea of India being a diverse nation, with diversity being our strength and identity," he said. According to Sangma, the Northeast has a unique culture and society and wants to keep it that way. However, the NPP leader also stated that it is difficult to say anything without seeing the actual content of the UCC draft.
Noting that Meghalaya has a matrilineal society and there are different cultures in the Northeast, he asserted, "These cannot be changed," the CM said.
Earlier on June 27, batting for the UCC, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the country cannot be run with "two laws" when the Constitution of India talks about equality for all. He asked how different rules could apply to different family members.
"Will a family function if there are two different sets of rules for people? Then how will a country run? Our Constitution too guarantees equal rights to all people," PM Modi said.
What Is Uniform Civil Code?
The Uniform Civil Code is a proposal to formulate and implement personal laws which will apply uniformly to all citizens regardless of their religion, gender, and sexual orientation.
The code comes under Article 44 of the Constitution, which stipulates that the state shall endeavour to secure a Uniform Civil Code for the citizens throughout the territory of India. In the BJP's 2019 Lok Sabha election manifesto, the party had promised the implementation of UCC if it came to power.
(With agency inputs)