One home can't have separate laws: PM Modi's UCC pitch
What's the story
Addressing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi batted for the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), saying that one home can't have two sets of laws.
He also questioned why Muslim-majority countries aren't practicing triple talaq if it is pivotal to Islam.
This is being seen as his pitch for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Context
Why does this story matter?
The UCC has been on the BJP's manifesto, and the Constitution also envisages it.
It aims to enforce similar laws for all citizens as opposed to the current provision for personal laws based on an individual's faith.
However, several quarters see it as the ruling BJP's attempt at using majoritarianism as a plank to disband the religious autonomy of minority communities.
Twitter Post
People being instigated over UCC: PM Modi
#WATCH | PM Narendra Modi speaks on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC)
— ANI (@ANI) June 27, 2023
"Today people are being instigated in the name of UCC. How can the country run on two (laws)? The Constitution also talks of equal rights...Supreme Court has also asked to implement UCC. These (Opposition) people… pic.twitter.com/UwOxuSyGvD
Triple talaq
'Wherever I go, Muslim women stand with BJP, Modi': PM
In a veiled attack on the opposition, PM Modi said, "Those who advocate for triple talaq are hungry for a vote bank and are doing grave injustice to Muslim daughters."
He said, "Indian Muslims will have to understand which political parties are provoking and destroying them for their own benefit."
He claimed that wherever he goes, Muslim women "stand with the BJP and Modi."
Statement
Triple talaq destroys families: PM Modi
Kicking off the "Mera Booth Sabse Majboot" campaign in Bhopal, PM Modi said Egypt abolished triple talaq around 80-90 years ago, despite Sunni Muslims being 90% of its population.
Notably, the PM returned on Monday from a state visit to Egypt. He added that triple talaq doesn't just concern women, but also destroys families.
He said that the Supreme Court also supported the UCC.
Quote
Pasmanda Muslims still thought of as untouchables: PM Modi
"Our Pasmanda Muslim brothers and sisters' lives have been made hell by those who do vote-bank politics. They have been discriminated against so much, but there has been no debate on this. Even today, Pasmanda Muslims are... thought of as untouchables," he said.
Details
Don't be angry, pity them: PM on opposition meet
Furthermore, he said most Muslim families are lagging...in education and employment and are forced to live a difficult life as Opposition parties played appeasement politics and obstructed the UCC.
PM Modi also took a dig at the opposition parties' recent meeting in Patna, saying, "People and parties who used to abuse each other are now falling on each other's feet,...this reflects their helplessness."