The Gujarat Opposition has criticized the BJP government’s formation of a committee on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) as a distraction ahead of local elections. They argue the UCC could harm the rights of tribal communities. While some committee members support the UCC for women’s rights, opponents view it as politically motivated and detrimental to cultural customs.
Gandhinagar: The Opposition in Gujarat has strongly criticized the BJP government’s decision to form a committee on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), calling it an attempt to divert public attention ahead of local body elections. The Opposition also claimed that the UCC, if implemented, would adversely affect the rights and traditions of tribal communities in the state.
The five-member panel, headed by retired Supreme Court judge Ranjana Desai, has been assigned to assess the need for a UCC in Gujarat and draft the bill, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel announced earlier in the day.
Leader of Opposition Amit Chavda accused the BJP of engaging in “politics of minority and majority” rather than addressing real issues.
“In Gujarat, tribals make up 14 per cent of the population. The UCC will affect the culture, customs, religious rites, and marriage system of the tribal communities. Similarly, the Jain community of Gujarat and the Devipujaks will also be affected,”
Chavda said.
He further argued that the Constitution grants certain communities the right to follow their customs and traditions, and the implementation of the UCC is the responsibility of the central government, not the state.
“Since there is internal fighting in the BJP across Gujarat and the government has failed in every way, this announcement is merely a distraction before the local elections,”
Chavda claimed.
Aam Aadmi Party’s state head, Isudan Gadhvi, accused the BJP of strategically bringing up the UCC debate whenever elections are near.
“Even today, 80 percent of domestic disputes in the Maldhari community are resolved by its own leaders. There is polygamy in tribal society, and all these practices will end if the UCC is implemented. Therefore, we believe the UCC will be a hindrance for Christians, Sikhs, Muslims, and others,”
he said.
Gadhvi also predicted a major political fallout for the BJP if the UCC is enforced:
“If the UCC is implemented in Gujarat, the BJP will not win a single tribal seat.”
He further criticized the ruling party, saying:
“The BJP has done nothing to tackle inflation or unemployment. It only engages in Hindu-Muslim or vote-bank politics.”
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Danish Siddique accused the BJP of using the UCC to specifically target Muslims.
“If tribals are kept outside the proposed law, then it is not truly a uniform code. We will present our concerns before the panel. The BJP talks about polygamy among Muslims, but it exists in other communities too. If one community is allowed (to have polygamy) while others are not, then it is not UCC,”
Siddique stated.
Meanwhile, social worker Gita Shroff, one of the committee members, voiced strong support for the UCC.
“I firmly believe a common law will have many benefits. In the past 30 years, I have seen women and children struggle for justice. UCC will help resolve these issues,”
Shroff said.
Former vice chancellor of Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, Dakshesh Thakar, another committee member, also backed the UCC, highlighting its importance in women’s rights.
“Personal laws negatively impact women. The Supreme Court had already directed in the Shah Bano judgment that contradictions in these laws must be removed and a uniform law should be framed,”
he noted.
Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi defended the BJP’s move, saying that the UCC implemented by Uttarakhand serves as a model that safeguards tribal customs and traditions.
“(Union) Home Minister Amit Shah has also clarified in Jharkhand that the UCC will protect the traditions followed by tribals,”
Sanghavi assured.
With local body elections approaching, the UCC debate has reignited tensions between the BJP and the Opposition. While the ruling party insists that the move will bring uniformity in laws, the Opposition claims it is a politically motivated distraction that could erode tribal and minority rights.
As the committee begins its deliberations, the battle over whether the UCC is a necessary reform or a political ploy continues to heat up in Gujarat.
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