SHILLONG, July 3: Three days after observing that the contentious Uniform Civil Code (UCC) contradicts India’s inherent diversity, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday said he would first like to see the content of the draft Bill before making any comment on the matter.
“We have to see the actual content of the Bill, only then that we can comment what it is,” he told journalists.
The CM said they would find out whether Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes of certain areas, Northeast and matrilineal society will be exempted from the purview of the law.
According to Sangma, the issue becomes complicated if the idea of UCC is not discussed with the stakeholders to look into all factors. He said people will not be able to accept it without discussions.
“If there are enough provisions that protect us, then we can discuss and move forward,” he added.
Earlier, he stated that UCC does not go with the idea of India whose strength and identity lie in its diversity. Therefore, the NPP feels the UCC will go against this idea, he had stated.
Similar views had started coming from other Northeastern states.
In Nagaland, BJP’s ally, the ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), has said that implementation of the UCC will have a negative impact on the freedom and rights of the minority communities and tribal people of India.
Mizoram, also an NDA ruled state, is more straightforward has already passed an official resolution opposing the UCC. With the highest percentage of tribal population at 94, the state has gone further ahead by stating that even if the Parliament passes UCC, the state will not implement it without a nod from the assembly.
In Assam, where the BJP is in a commanding position under Chief Minister and NEDA head Himanta Biswa Sarma, its ally Asom Gana Parishad seems to be reluctant keeping in mind its vote bank. The border state has many seats with Muslims in the majority. The state has a sizable tribal population too.
In Tripura, the party enjoys a majority but the main Tribal party — Tipra Motha Party — headed by Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma is unlikely to support the UCC.
Despite several rounds of talks, the tribal party which also heads the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council has not joined the BJP-led coalition.
In Manipur, which is passing through troubled times, the BJP is in a comfortable position but with many Naga and Kuki tribals, implementation of UCC will be a difficult task.
Only Arunachal Pradesh might become a pliant state in case UCC is implemented.
