Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, while interacting with over 10 lakh booth-level BJP workers across the country during his Madhya Pradesh visit said, the opposition is instigating people in the name of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC). 

"Today people are being instigated in the name of UCC. How can the country be run on two (laws)? The Constitution also talks of equal rights...Supreme Court has also asked to implement UCC. These (Opposition) people are playing vote bank politics," he said.

Making a strong case for the UCC in India, he said that it is envisioned in the Constitution and the Supreme Court has asked for it to be implemented. Modi also said the issue of UCC is being used to mislead and provoke the Muslim community, he added. 

Addressing over 3,000 BJP workers selected from across the country, an impassioned Modi said, “Those supporting triple talaq are doing grave injustice to Muslim daughters". The 3000 BJP workers Modi addressed had made effective contributions in empowering their booths under the party's “Mera Booth Sabse Majboot" campaign. 

On the topic of triple talaq, Modi said that even in countries like Indonesia, Pakistan and Bangladesh, where there is a Muslim majority, triple talaq has been banned. "I was in Egypt day before yesterday. In Egypt, over 90 per cent people belong to the Sunni communiy. They did away with triple talaq 80-90 years ago. If Islam is a necessary tent of Islam, then why don't these countries have triple talaq? Why do Qatar, Jordan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Indonesia do not have triple talaq?" he said.

"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," the prime minister added.

Here's how the opposition reacted

Reacting to PM Modi’s statement on Uniform Civil Code, CPIM leader M A Baby said, “PM has not spoken a word on Manipur. It’s the immediate issue that needs mention by the prime minister. He is not satisfied by putting the northeastern state on fire and now wants the same for the country. UCC is aimed at assaulting a minority community." 

The Congress, meanwhile, released an animated video comparing Rahul Gandhi’s “mohabbat ki dukaan" with BJP’s “nafrat ka bazaar". 

Congress leader and former Rajya Sabha MP Tariq Anwar commented, “When any law is made it is for everyone and they have to follow it. Then what is the need to discuss that bill which has already been passed? PM Modi is doing so because elections are ahead and they have done nothing for the country." 

DMK leader TKS Elangovan said, “Uniform Civil Code should be first introduced in the Hindu religion. Every person including SC/ST should be allowed to perform pooja in any temple in the country. We don't want UCC only because the Constitution has given protection to every religion.”

Arif Masood, Congress leader and Executive member of All India Muslim Personal Law Board said, “PM should remember that he has taken oath on the Constitution drafted by Dr BR Ambedkar. All sections of the country have faith in Constitution and will not allow it to change.”