Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently discussed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), stating that it is already operational in the state of Goa and emphasized the significance of its implementation in the country. He pointed out that the Indian Constitution mentions the UCC and underscored the Supreme Court's repeated calls for the government to take steps towards its enforcement. PM Modi questioned the delay in implementing the UCC, pointing to the example of Goa, where a version of the UCC has been in place since independence, based on the Portuguese Civil Code of 1867 which treats all religions equally in legal matters.
The Prime Minister reiterated that implementing the UCC is not just a political ideology but a commitment to the Constitution and its directive principles. He emphasized that the Constitution of India includes the implementation of the UCC in Article 44 as a directive principle. Uttarakhand recently emerged as the first state in the country to adopt the UCC, with the BJP promising to introduce it nationwide in its election manifesto.
Furthermore, PM Modi rebuffed opposition claims that the BJP would attempt to alter the Constitution if it secured over 400 seats in the Lok Sabha elections. He cited the NDA coalition's significant majority in the Parliament for the past five years, emphasizing that if there were intentions to modify the Constitution, it would have been done earlier. He criticized the Congress party for its historical actions, questioning their respect for the Constitution given their track record of disregarding party and national guidelines, citing instances from the past involving Jawaharlal Nehru and the Congress party's internal workings.