UCC Debate Heats Up: SP Leader Warns of Communal Rift, BJP Defends the Code

When asked about the much‑talked‑about Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Moradabad, Samajwadi Party stalwart S.T. Hasan didn’t mince words. He said the timing of the proposal, so close to the next polls, feels like a political gamble that could "undermine communal harmony" – a concern he says resonates with many in the state.

Hasan, a former MP, reminded listeners that India’s tapestry of personal laws is woven from centuries‑old religious customs. "Who knows how many more issues will pop up before the elections and strain Hindu‑Muslim unity? A uniform code simply can’t be forced on such diversity," he argued, adding that his community would continue to follow its faith‑based laws regardless of any new legislation.

Across the aisle, Uttar Pradesh’s cabinet minister Sanjay Nishad, who also heads the Nishad Party, defended the UCC with a very different tone. Citing Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s vision, Nishad said genuine social justice – especially gender equality – can’t be achieved while personal laws remain fragmented. "The Constitution talks about equal citizenship. That can only happen through uniform statutes, not through a patchwork of religion‑based rules," he told reporters.

He went on to single out Muslim women, asking, "Aren’t they part of this country?" and suggested that the discriminatory aspects of some personal laws – like the practice of instant talaq – clash with constitutional guarantees. Nishad praised Gujarat’s model of a common civil code as a success story, urging the same approach nationwide: "Religion is a way of life, but equality, safety and prosperity are constitutional rights. Let’s give every voter an equal voice."

The exchange came after Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that the BJP aims to roll out the UCC in all 21 NDA‑ruled states before 2029. Congress’s Uttar Pradesh chief Ajay Rai seized on the moment, accusing the BJP of stoking communal tensions to distract from local issues like waterlogging in Varanasi. "They only know Hindu‑Muslim politics. Whether it’s UCC or any other move, their goal is to make communities fight each other," Rai alleged, even urging the Nishad Party chief to quit the coalition and side with Congress for the sake of the Nishad community.

Meanwhile, BJP MLA Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary reminded voters that the UCC was a flagship promise in the party’s 2024 election manifesto. "Until the code is in place, women cannot enjoy full protection of their rights. Our government is working relentlessly to bring this important law forward," he said, echoing the Home Minister’s timetable.

At its core, the Uniform Civil Code seeks a single set of personal laws governing marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption for every Indian, irrespective of faith. While supporters argue it’s a step toward gender parity and national integration, opponents fear it could erode the cultural nuances that many communities cherish. The debate, it seems, is far from settled as the country heads toward a crucial election cycle.