By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 5: Reinvigorating the opposition to Uniform Civil Code (UCC), the state Congress has sought a resolution in the Assembly against any move by the Centre to implement UCC across the nation.
Speaking to The Shillong Times on Tuesday, Leader of Opposition Ronnie V Lyngdoh said he agrees with the argument of Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma that the UCC is still a concept since the BJP-led NDA Government is yet to come up with a draft on exactly what they propose to do with the UCC.
“But as a state, we need to send a strong message to the Centre that we are opposing this move,” Lyngdoh said.
The LO has however observed that there are conflicting statements on the matter by some Union Cabinet ministers, who say that the Northeastern region and religious minority should be exempted.
He flagged the lack of a cohesive decision making in the NDA Government. “I think for a country as diverse as India, we cannot have UCC. If for 75 years, we can co-exist with all diversity, then why rake up this issue,” he said, while expressing suspicion over the issue coming alive because of Lok Sabha polls.
“What I could see that the BJP has run out of ideas to capture the minds of the people to vote for them. The BJP has been in power at the Centre for 10 years now, why to rake up this issue,” Lyngdoh said.He argued that the UCC will create more divisions in the society.
“It will affect the tribal society the most since we have got our own way of life and customary practices, inheritance, marriage and so on and so forth. As an MLA from the tribal community, I oppose this move,” he added.
