UCC to implement ‘One Nation, One Election’ for next term: Amit Shah

Home Minister Amit Shah has said that if the BJP returns to power, it will implement a National Uniform Civil Code within the next five years after holding extensive consultations with all stakeholders.

In a wide-ranging interview with PTI, Shah said with simultaneous elections coming up across India, the Modi government will also have a “one nation, one election” approach in its next term.

The BJP leader further said simultaneous elections would also reduce costs.

Asked about the possibility of shifting the current elections, which are being held amid sweltering heat, to winter or any other time of the year, Shah said, “It can be considered. If we are to bring the elections forward once, then it is possible and we should do so. It is also the student vacation period. A lot of issues will arise as well. With time, the (Lobby) elections have gradually been shifted to this time of the year (summer).”

Talking about the Uniform Civil Code, Shah said, “A Uniform Civil Code is a responsibility entrusted to us, our Parliament and our State Legislatures since Independence by the framers of our Constitution.”

“The guidelines decided for us by the Constituent Assembly include a Uniform Civil Code. And even then, jurists like KM Munshi, Rajendra Babu and Shri Ambedkar had said that in a secular state there should be no laws based on religion. There should be a Uniform Civil Code,” he said.

The Union Home Minister said the BJP was in the grip of the state and the Central governments and had experimented with coming to majority power in Uttarakhand.

The UCC has been on the BJP’s agenda since the 1950s and was recently enacted in the BJP-ruled state of Uttarakhand.

“I believe that the Uniform Civil Code is a major social, legal and religious reform. The laws enacted by the Uttarakhand government should be socially and legally scrutinised. Religious leaders should also be consulted,” he said.

“What I would like to say is that there should be an extensive discussion on this matter. And if after this extensive discussion there is any change in the model law enacted by the Uttarakhand government, someone will definitely go to court. There will also be a judicial opinion,” he said.

“The state assemblies and the National Assembly will then have to seriously consider the issue and enact a law. That is why we have written in our ‘Sankalpa Patra’ that the BJP is aiming for a national uniform civil code,” he said.

Asked if it would be possible within the next five years, Shah said it would only be done within this time frame. “Five years is a good enough time,” he said.

When asked about simultaneous elections, Shah said, “We will do our utmost to realise ‘One Nation, One Election’. This too should be discussed. “The Prime Minister has constituted the Ram Nath Kovind Committee, of which I was also a member. The committee’s report has been submitted. The time has come to hold simultaneous elections across the country,” he added.

Asked whether the BJP could introduce the bill in the next session if it returns to power, Shah said: “Our resolution is valid for five years. We will introduce the bill during this period.”In its manifesto for the ongoing Indian Lok Sabha elections, the BJP says Article 44 of the Constitution lists a Uniform Civil Code as one of the guidelines of state policy.

“The BJP believes that there will be no gender equality until the Government of India adopts a Uniform Civil Code that protects the rights of all women and we reiterate our stand to formulate a Uniform Civil Code that draws on the best traditions and is in keeping with modern times,” the manifesto said.

On “one nation, one election”, the BJP manifesto said the Modi government would set up a high-powered committee to look into the issue of holding simultaneous elections and would work towards implementing the committee’s recommendations.

He also promised to introduce a common electoral roll for elections at all levels.

Find out more about the 2024 Lok Sabha elections schedule, voter turnout and upcoming developments on the News18 website.