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Uniform Civil Code is next agenda for BJP, RSS

BJP, RSS hope for consensus over the Uniform Civil Code as The party had three major agendas at the time of the establishment of the BJP, including the construction of the Ram temple and the repeal of Article 370 of the Constitution from Jammu and Kashmir. Now a major agenda of BJP is left is the Uniform Civil Code.

The NDA government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been working for a long time to implement a uniform code of conduct in the country.  It is to be noted that in this regard, some time back the Modi government had asked the Law Commission to examine its implications in the event of implementing a uniform code of conduct (Uniform Civil Code) in the country and also sought a report.  According to media reports of this time, this is the first time since independence when a government has sought its opinion from the Law Commission on Uniform Civil Code.

The matter is going on in the court to implement the Uniform Code of Conduct in the country.  It is believed that the Delhi High Court may soon take action on the petitions seeking implementation of the Uniform Code of Conduct.  On November 15, a bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice C Harishankar will hear it.  Last May, the court had asked the Central Government to file its affidavit on PIL regarding its implementation.

It is believed that this move by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government will start a political controversy as political parties are not unanimous about the implementation of a uniform civil code in the country.  Political parties have their arguments on the Uniform Civil Code.  If Parliament passes the Uniform Civil Code Bill, then uniform law will be applicable to all citizens across the country.

Uniform civil code or uniform code of conduct means a secular law that applies equally to people of all religions.  In other words, the absence of separate civil laws for different religions is the basic spirit of the ‘Uniform Civil Code’.  It is above all personal laws of any religion or caste.  Uniform law for all citizens of the country.  That is, it will be a fair law.  When this law is made, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians will all have to follow the same law.  That is, Muslims will not be able to do even three marriages.

After the Ayodhya verdict, BJP leaders and supporters have started talking about the Uniform Civil Code.  On social media, people are now seen talking like Bari of Uniform Civil Code.  At the same time, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said on the question asked by the journalists about the uniform code of conduct that now the time has come.

 Let us tell you that Article 44 of the Constitution discusses the Uniform Civil Code.  This article related to the Directive Principles of State Policy states that ‘the State shall endeavor to obtain a uniform civil code for citizens in all the territories of India’.  It is also mentioned in the Constitution that the Directive Principles are fundamental in the governance of the country and it will be the duty of the state to implement them in making laws.  Implementation of Uniform Civil Code in the constitution states the responsibility of the State under Article 44, but it has not been implemented in the country till date.  There has been a big debate about this.

While the majority of population of the country has been vehemently demanding to implement the Uniform Civil Code, the minority class has been opposing it.  The Muslim community has always argued that its cases fall under Muslim personal law in which the law of the country cannot interfere.  While this reasoning among the people of other religions has been the cause of resentment.

At the same time, the discussion on the Common Civil Code has been raised in the Supreme Court only last month.  A bench of Justices Deepak Gupta and Anirudh Bose discussed this while hearing a Goa property dispute case.  The court said that all the people of the country had expressed their displeasure at the non-implementation of uniform civil code.  The court said that the Hindu law was enacted in 1956 but even after 63 years had passed, attempts were not made to enforce uniform civil code across the country.  During this time, the court gave the example of Goa.  Actually, the Uniform Civil Code is in force in Goa.  Let us understand under which circumstances this important law is applicable in only one state of the country.

The Indian state of Goa is a shining example, which has implemented the Uniform Civil Code for all, regardless of religion.  Muslim men whose marriages are registered in Goa cannot commit polygamy.  There is no provision of oral divorce (triple talaq) for those who believe in Islam. “Under the Uniform Civil Code applicable in Goa, there is the same law for Hindu, Muslim and Christian in respect of succession, dowry and marriage.”.  Also, there is a provision in this law that no parent can deprive their children of their property completely.  There is also a provision contained in it that if a Muslim registers his marriage in Goa, then polygamy will not be allowed.

In such a situation, it is important to understand how the Common Civil Code is applicable in Goa alone.  Actually, the merger of Goa in India and the implementation of Uniform Civil Code there is an interlinked issue.  India gained independence from the British rule on 15 August 1947 and India became an independent country, but even then some areas of India were under Portuguese, French colonial rulers, including Goa, Daman Diu and Dadar Nagar Haveli, who’s India could be merged later.  The Government of India launched the ‘Operation Vijay’ campaign to gain control over Goa, after which the Indian Parliament passed the Goa, Daman and Diu Administration Act 1962 law for the administration of Goa, Daman and Diu after joining India in the year 1961 did. In this way, the Uniform Civil Code came into force in Goa.

Unity in law for all will increase unity in the country and in a country where there is unity among citizens, there is no discrimination.  With this, the country will move rapidly on the path of rapid development.  Not only has this, due to different laws of different religions, but the judiciary also had an additional burden.  Once it is implemented, the burden of the judiciary will be reduced and due to the time saved and law, many pending cases will also be settled soon.

On the other hand, when the law of every religion will be the same, then in reality the rights and laws of all citizens can be said to be one.  In that case, unity will increase among the citizens, not only this, the shops of politicians doing politics in the name of religion will be closed.  During the election, the polarization of votes based on castes will also be reduced, which will help in fair elections.

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BJP to hold its third virtual rally in West Bengal

After Bihar, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is all set to address virtual rally in West Bengal today.

The virtual rally of Shah is part of BJP’s “Atmanirbhar Bharat” campaign.

This would be Shah’s third virtual rally in the last three days. Social media platforms will stream the live broadcast as Amit Shah addresses Bengal virtually for the first time from the BJP headquarters in Delhi.

The BJP is expecting to reach out around 65,000 people through live streaming.

According to sources, Amit Shah is expected to raise the issues of TMC government mishandling the coronavirus situation in the state as well as the migrant labour crisis.

Shah’s virtual rally comes days after he had asserted that the BJP will come as victorious in the 2021 Assembly election in West Bengal.

Earlier Shah addressed Bihar Jan Samvad rally on Sunday and Odisha Jan Samvad rally on Monday.

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Adesh Kumar Gupta replaces Manoj Tiwari as Delhi BJP President

As lockdown restrictions across the country are eased, it seems political activities are also returning to its new normal.

The Bharatiya Janta Party on Tuesday appointed Adesh Kumar Gupta as it’s new president of the party’s Delhi unit.

Gupta, the former mayor of the northern Delhi Municipal corporation from Delhi’s west Patel Nagar will take over from the Bhojpuri actor turned politician Manoj Tiwari.

According to BJP’s official statement, party president JP Nadda has appointed Adesh Kumar Gupta as Delhi BJP chief and the appointment will come to effect immediately.

Tiwari had lost to the Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi assembly polls and his term was also over, after which he offered to quit.

The BJP also named tribal leader and former Union minister Vishnu Deo Sai as its Chhattisgarh state president.

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Kamal Nath questions ‘surgical strike’ credibility, attacks PM Modi

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath on Thursday came down heavily on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over unemployment and farm distress.
He also dared him to share the details of the 2016 surgical strike.

The BJP does not remember the 90,000 Pakistani soldiers who surrendered during Indira Gandhi’s tenure. They will not want to hear about that. They claim carrying out a surgical strike. Which surgical strike? When and where was the surgical strike? Tell the country about it clearly,” he said.
“I want to ask you, have you heard Modi ji talking about the youth in the last six-eight months? Did you hear (Prime Minister Modi) talking about farmers?” he was quoted as saying.

The Congress leader further said PM Modi had claimed (before 2014 national election) that once he becomes the Prime Minister, two crore jobs will be created every year.

“Modi ji 2 crore to chhodiye, 2 lakh ka naam bata dijiye (Forget two crore, tell us names of 2 lakh people whom you gave jobs),” he said.

Kamal Nath said Modi keeps talking about nationalism, Pakistan, Hindu-Muslim divide and needless issues like CAA adding that his government would not implement the Citizenship Amendment Act and National Population Register in Madhya Pradesh.

He also launched a fierce attack on former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for his “blatant lies and hunger for credit”.

The surgical strike had become one of the biggest talking point for the BJP before the national election last year.
“Terrorists attacked Mumbai, what happened after it? In our government, Uri happened, what happened after it? This is the change. The fire that was in the hearts of our jawans, it was in the heart of the PM too, Surgical Strike was the result,” he had said.

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AAP sweeps Delhi: Kejriwal says ‘I Love You’ to Delhiites; Rahul, Manoj Tiwari congratulate him

Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP set a hattrick in the Delhi assembly election and is all set to form the government for the third consecutive term in the national capital.
After the landslide victory, Kejriwal went at sought blessings at the Hanuman Temple.

Addressing the gathering, Kejriwal told the capital’s citizens “I love you” in his expression of thanks for the overwhelming mandate.

“Delhi has given the message that they will vote for those who will provide schools, cheap electricity and hospitals. This is a new kind of politics. It is a new and good sign for the nation.”

Kejriwal said a new kind of politics has been born today — “the politics of work”.
Expressing happiness over the feat, Kejriwal’s wife Sunita said, “Several ups and downs were going on. We trusted our work. Delhi has made ‘kaam’ victorious. Delhi people have given me a gift, could not have asked for a better gift.”

Congratulating Kejriwal for his big win, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, said, “My best wishes and congratulations to Mr Kejriwal and AAP on winning the Delhi elections.”

Aam Aadmi Party’s Amanatullah Khan, who won by a largest mandate of 71,000 votes over his closest rival, the BJP’s Braham Singh, had an interesting statement about the results. “Okhla ki janta ne current laga diya, (the people of Okhla have given an electric shock),” he said, referring to Amit Shah’s recent advice to the people of Delhi.

At a recent rally, BJP chief Amit Shah said, “Press the button with such anger that the current is felt at Shaheen Bagh,” making the anti-citizenship law protests front and centre of the party’s campaign.
Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari, who had refuted Exit polls and was confident that BJP will win with 48 seats, congratulated AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal on the party’s return to power in the capital.

Tiwari, who had earlier in the day said BJP could win as many as 55 seats, said he respected the mandate of the people.
“Thank you to the voters in Delhi. For their hard work. I respect the mandate of the people. Congratulations to Arvind Kejriwal,” he tweeted, minutes after Kejriwal’s victory speech.

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Even after Delhi polls are over, BJP continues to take a jibe at Arvind Kejriwal

Even after the Delhi polls are over, the Bhartiya Janata Party continues to slam AAP’s Arvind Kejriwal. In a recent development, BJP lawmaker Parvesh Verma on Sunday demanded to know if Kejriwal and his party had any faith in any institution of India.

Taking a jibe at Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Verma took to Twitter and wrote: “Doubt armed forces, doubt Parliament, doubt Prime Minister, doubt judiciary, doubt CBI, doubt Lieutenant Governor and now Election Commission…Is there any institution in India you have faith in?”
Verma’s comments came after Kejriwal, questioned the integrity of the Election Commission of India for “delaying the announcement of Delhi’s final poll percentage”.

Kejriwal had tweeted, “Absolutely shocking. What is EC doing? Why are they not releasing poll turnout figures, several hours after polling?”.

However, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Ranbir Singh, late on Sunday, announced that voter turnout in Delhi Assembly elections was 62.59 per cent.

“The voter turnout in Delhi was 62.59 per cent. It is about 2 per cent more than the last year’s Lok Sabha elections. It is, however, less than the turnout in the last Assembly polls held in 2015,” the CEO said at a press conference here.

Meanwhile, another BJP leader di not refrained from making comments over the issue. Party candidate from Model Town Kapil Mishra seemed highly confident about his and his party’s win in the Delhi Election 2020. Mishra said that AAP’s attack on Election Commission over delay in release of polling data shows that on 11 February, BJP will win.
He also added that surveys and exit polls have been wrong in the past and they will be wrong again.

Voting was held for all 70 of Delhi’s Assembly seats on Saturday, with nearly 2,700 polling stations and 13,000 booths set up across Delhi opening at 8 am.

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Delhi Polls: Kejriwal says ‘Manoj Tiwari dances well’; Yogi slapped with EC notice

Delhi Chief Minster and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said he does not mock Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari for his songs and himself watches the Bhojpuri actor-turned-politician’s videos in which he “dances well”.
Kejriwal said wherever he goes, he asks people to listen to Mr Tiwari’s songs and watch the videos of his songs and dance.

The Aam Aadmi Party chief was responding to the Delhi BJP’s allegation that he had insulted “purvanchalis” and their culture by mocking Tiwari’s songs.

“I have not mocked Tiwari for his song ”Rinkiya ke Papa” and instead, I have praised him for singing good songs. I do not understand where is insulting and mocking in it. I listen to Tiwari’s songs. I like his videos. He dances well,” Kejriwal said.

Meanwhile, in another development, The Election Commission has issued a notice to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for violation of model code of conduct over his speech where he had said ‘Kejriwal is feeding Biryani to Shaheen Bagh protesters.

According to reports, the poll panel has given him time till February 7 to ‘explain’ his position.

The EC said the UP Chief Minister has violated the code of conduct for “criticism of other parties or their workers based on unverified allegations or distortion”.

This is in reference to his ‘biryani’ speech which Adityanath gave while referring to Shaheen Bagh’s anti-CAA protests. He purportedly said, “Kejriwal may like to feed ‘biryani’ to Shaheen Bagh protesters. Its not something that BJP is keen on.”

“The BJP is working with zero tolerance towards terrorism. But Kejriwal is busy sponsoring and offering biryani in Shaheen Bagh,” he said.

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Kejriwal’s daughter hits back, asks BJP how is his father ‘terrorist’

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s daughter Harshita have hit out at BJP leaders who called her politician father a “terrorist” in a campaign rally ahead of assembly elections slated to happen on February 8th.

Calling the move a “new low in politics”, the CM’s daughter asked if the work of development was an act of ‘terrorism’?

“They say politics is dirty but this is a new low. Is it terrorism if health facilities are made free? Is it terrorism if children are educated? Is it terrorism if power and water facilities are ensured?” questioned the Chief Minister’s daughter Harshita, 24.

BJP’s Delhi MP Parvesh Verma was the first to use the term for the Chief Minister at a public meeting on January 25. “We hear instances of Hindu women picked up by Muslim men… no action is taken as terrorists like Kejriwal are hidden everywhere. Should we fight with Pakistan terrorists in Kashmir or with terrorists like Kejriwal,” he had said.
She said Arvind Kejriwal used to make the family read the Gita and sing Insaan Se Insaan Ka Ho Bhaichara early in the morning, and teach them about it.

“Is this terrorism?” she asked.
Kejriwal’s wife Sunita Kejriwal echoed similar views. “I think people will give them (BJP leaders) a befitting reply. It’s been 25 years since we are married. He (Arvind) has always told social service is his passion. Those who are saying even they know are lying… either they are under some sort of pressure or they lack an individual identity,” she said.

Kejriwal too has expressed that he was hurt being labelled as a ‘terrorist’. “In what way am I a terrorist? How can they label me a terrorist? I have dedicated my life to serve the people of Delhi. I have worked as their elder son. I have worked to ensure that they get free water, free electricity, get good facilities like schools and hospitals. Now it is for the people of Delhi to decide what I am,” the Chief Minister said.

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Delhi Polls Update: Priyanka Gandhi targets Modi; Kejriwal dares ‘BJP’ to name CM candidate

With just 3 days to go for the Delhi polls, the political blame game is heating up like never before.

Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over unemployment, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, speaking at a rally, took a dig at Modi’s “sanyog-prayog” remarks on Shaheen Bagh, asking whether the rise in job losses was a coincidence or his experiment.

“When PM comes to give a speech in front of you, he does not even make a mention of it. Can he tell us whether the job losses was ‘sanyog or prayog’. Can he tell us that in 35 years, the unemployment rate is the highest, ‘ye kya sanyog tha, ya prayog tha unka’? (Was it coincidence, or his experiment),” she said at a joint rally with Rahul Gandhi in Sangam Vihar.
At a poll rally recently, Prime Minister Modi said the protests against the new citizenship law in Shaheen Bagh and other areas are not a coincidence but an “experiment” (“sanyog nahi prayog”) and a political conspiracy to destroy the country’s harmony.

She also attacked Union Home Minister Amit Shah over his remarks that “we (the BJP) will make Delhi like UP”.

“I am the Congress general secretary of UP, let me tell you what he has made of UP. It was a state that had the most potential. What is the state of affairs now, the BJP government, has harassed people,” she alleged.

“Unemployment rate in UP is the highest, every two minutes a woman is raped, every 90 minutes there is a crime against a child, everyday there is an atrocity against 30 Dalits, maximum number of murders are in UP, unemployment is on top while education is languishing at the bottom of priorities,” Priyanka Gandhi said.
Meanwhile, in another development, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has challenged the BJP to name its Chief Ministerial candidate, saying he was ready for a debate with anyone.

“Amit Shah says that he would name the Chief Minister candidate once he gets Delhi’s mandate. But the people of Delhi want to know now who would be their Chief Minister if they vote for the BJP. What if Amit Shah names someone uneducated and incompetent? That would be a betrayal of the people of Delhi,” Kejriwal said.

Arvind Kejriwal has repeatedly ridiculed the BJP for its lack of a Chief Ministerial candidate. On New Year, he even took a swipe at the BJP, tweeting a Happy New Year wish to the “7 Chief Minister candidates of Delhi BJP”

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Watch: Kejriwal shares clip where martyrs’ families are irked by ‘terrorist attack’, video goes viral

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday countered the BJP’s jibe at him of being a ‘terrorist,’ posting on Twitter a video of families of four martyrs praising his government’s scheme of Rs one crore aid to martyrs’ families.

In a three-minute-long clip, relatives of Delhi police officers, a firefighter and an assistant sub-inspector of police questioned how could Verma and Union home minister call AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal a terrorist when he is one who has been serving India selflessly.

Lauding Delhi government for giving “Rs 1 crore aid” to the kin of martyrs, the members said that their financial condition has improved after the monetary help. “Whatever worries we had after our son passed away, were taken care of by the government in the national capital,” an elderly couple said.

Another relative said, “No government can think about how the life of such families could change by extending a helping hand.” His statement is then seconded by kin of another martyr, who says that Kejriwal is a simple man who works selflessly for the people.

The video was posted on Twitter by Delhi CM himself, who urged people to listen to what the family members of slain officers had to say. The video received over 17,000 views in an hour.

It was BJP Lok Sabha MP Parvesh Verma who had called the Delhi Chief Minister a ‘terrorist’ on January 29, prompting the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to protest outside the Election Commission’s office a day later, seeking an FIR against Verma.

Even as Parvesh Verma is under fire for calling Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal a “terrorist”, backing for the BJP MP’s statement came from none other than union minister Prakash Javadekar, who not only repeated the claim but also added that there was ‘plenty of evidence’ to prove it.

“Kejriwal is now asking with a sad face, ‘am I a terrorist?’ You are a terrorist and there is a lot of evidence to prove that. You yourself had said you are an anarchist. There is not much difference between an anarchist and a terrorist,” Javadekar said at a press conference.