‘Uttarakhand will be the second state in India to implement UCC if BJP is voted to power’: CM Dhami

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday promised to implement the Uniform Civil Code in the state if the Bharatiya Janata Party retains power after the assembly elections 2022 and forms the government again.

Implementing Uniform Civil Code in Uttarakhand at the earliest will boost equal rights for everyone in the state, chief minister Pushkar S Dhami said today. As soon as the new BJP government is formed, it will form a committee to prepare a draft of UCC in the state, he told news agency ANI.

“This Uniform Civil Code will be a step towards realising the dreams of those who framed our Constitution and solidify the spirit of the Constitution. This will also be an impactful step towards Article 44 that provides for UCC for all citizens,” Dhami said, as quoted by news agency ANI.

A Uniform Civil Code for India is one of the political articles of faith for the BJP and was part of its 2019 election manifesto. The need for one has been argued on the grounds that it will promote homogeneity and unity in India.

He said the BJP government in Uttarakhand will derive inspiration for the decision from Goa which has set an example before the country by implementing a common civil code. A common civil code will promote social amity and gender equality besides strengthening women empowerment, Dhami added.

Goa is the only state in India where all communities, including Hindus, Muslims, Christians, are governed by the same law when it comes to marriage, divorce, succession, etc. because though the state became a part of the Indian union in 1961, the former Portuguese colony decided to continue with the Portuguese Civil Code of 1867 for all communities in the state.