SHILLONG, June 30: NPP national president and Chief Minister, Conrad K. Sangma on Friday became the latest politician from the state to join the growing chorus of the anti-Uniform Civil Code brigade, saying that the proposed law goes against the actual idea of India.
“The Uniform Civil Code (UCC), from the party point of view, goes against the actual idea of India itself,” he said.
“India is a diverse nation and the diversity is our strength,” he added.
Pointing out that the content of the bill is not known, Sangma said it would be difficult to go into the details without going through the UCC draft.
“We are a matrilineal society and that is what our strength and culture has been. Now, that cannot be changed for us,” he said.
“As a political party, we realise that the entire Northeast, as a matter of fact, has got unique cultures. We want these to remain and not be touched,” he added.
Stating that the NPP would like to see the content and language of the bill, Sangma said: “The concept in its own is something that does not go with the idea of India whose strength and identity is its diversity. Hence, the NPP feels the UCC will go against this idea.”
Sixth Schedule amendment
Speaking on the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Amendment) Bill, 2019, which seeks to amend provisions related to the Finance Commission and the Sixth Schedule, the CM said the government would hold discussions with the members of the three district councils.
The three councils were told about such discussions recently, he added.
“With consensus, the bill should go through,” he said.
A few days ago, the KHADC requested the state government to convene a meeting with all three autonomous district councils to discuss the proposed amendment to the Sixth Schedule.
“We have been speaking regularly with the district councils, officially and unofficially,” Sangma said.
“There are a few areas. We have seen that almost 95% of the concerns have been addressed and only a few issues are left,” he said.
The newly-formed NPP-led KHADC executive committee had during its first meeting resolved to submit its views and suggestions on the proposed amendment to the Sixth Schedule to the state government.