Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the country on Thursday to mark the 78th Independence Day, said it is the need of hour to have a secular civil code and do away with discriminatory communal civil code.
During his August 15 speech from the Red Fort, Modi said the Supreme Court has repeatedly held discussions on Uniform Civil Code and passed orders regarding it because a large section of the nation feels that the current civil code is a communal civil code that is discriminatory. "So it is our duty to fulfill it," said PM Modi.
The Prime Minister said everyone should come forward with their opinions and there must be widespread discussions on how the laws dividing the country on religious lines must be done away with. "And then we will be free of religious discrimination," Modi said.
BJP's Lok Sabha election manifestos over the years have promised that a Uniform Civil Code will be brought in.
In 1998, BJP manifesto said the Law Commission should be tasked with creating a Uniform Civil Code based on progressive practices from all traditions to give women property rights, ensure women's right to adopt, guarantee women equal guardianship rights, remove discriminatory divorce law clauses, end polygamy and making marriage registration mandatory.
BJP's 2004 vision document pointed out that personal laws must adhere to the guarantees given under the Constitution and promote gender justice.
The saffron party in its 2009 manifesto said real gender equality can be achieved through a Uniform Civil Code by protecting women's rights. BJP said it will form a panel to draft the law.
The 2014, 2019 and 2024 manifestos reiterated what BJP promised in 2009, pointing out that Article 44 of the Constitution lists Uniform Civil Code as one of the Directive Principles of State Policy and that the Uniform Civil Code should draw upon the best traditions and harmonising them with the modern times.
