Veteran actor and Trinamool Congress MP Shatrughan Sinha has commended the execution of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Uttarakhand, while also highlighting the loopholes in enforcing such legislation across the country.
Referencing a prohibition on non-vegetarian cuisine, the actor-politician stated that although he supported the initiative, enforcing it in specific regions of the country would prove challenging.
“Beef has been prohibited in numerous areas of the country. I believe that not just beef, but all non-vegetarian food should be prohibited in the country. Nevertheless, in certain areas it remains permissible to eat beef, including the northeast,” he quipped while addressing reporters outside Parliament.
“However, this approach will not be effective; a ban must be implemented universally, rather than only in specific areas,” Sinha remarked.
Sinha acknowledged the commendable implementation of the Uniform Civil Code in Uttarakhand, but warned about its nuances, pointing out that the UCC, a key promise of the BJP, contains loopholes and aims to establish a unified law for all religious communities regarding marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption, and more.
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“A meeting involving all parties should take place prior to formulating UCC provisions. All individuals ought to be asked for their views and perspectives on the matter. The UCC should not be viewed as a tactic for elections or vote banks, but should be approached with care and caution,” he emphasized.
On January 27, Uttarakhand became the first state post-Independence in India to enact the Uniform Civil Code.
The Uttarakhand civil code requires that all marriages and live-in relationships be registered. Among its main stipulations are equal property rights for both sons and daughters, equal grounds for divorce, and legitimacy for children born from cohabiting relationships.
The BJP government, led by Pushkar Dhami, has launched an online portal to simplify the registration process for marriage, divorce, and inheritance.