Secular civil code is need of the hour: PM

PM NARENDRA MODI URGED POLITICAL PARTIES TO SUPPORT 'ONE NATION, ONE ELECTION' STRESSING THAT FREQUENT ELECTIONS CREATE OBSTACLES IN THE COUNTRY'S PROGRESS

- ARCHIS MOHAN

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said a "secular civil code" is the need of the hour and described the existing set of laws in the country as "communal civil code", terming them discriminatory. He also urged political parties to support "one nation, one election" as frequent polls create obstacles in the country's progress.

The promise to usher in a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) has been part of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s core agenda. With the party delivering on its promises to construct a Ram temple in Ayodhya and the repeal of Article 370 of the Constitution, it is also now the party's only pending agenda.

The BJP-ruled Uttarakhand has already published a draft UCC, which has kept the Scheduled Tribes out of its ambit. That the PM flagged the UCC indicates that the BJP, despite losing majority at the Centre and running a coalition government, wishes to convey to its supporters that it has not lost sight of one of its core agendas. However, on both issues, the UCC and "one nation, one election" - the PM suggested a consultative approach.

On UCC, Modi said "we must hold extensive discussions", and on the latter, he sought the support of political parties. The PM's consensual approach indicated that his government now relies on support from the Telugu Desam Party and the Janata Dal (United), whose views on the two issues are more nuanced than that of the BJP.