NEW DELHI, July 2:
With Prime Minister Narendra Modi making a strong pitch for a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) ahead of next year’s general elections, the Congress today said the ruling BJP is raising “divisive and polarising” issues to divert the attention from the failures of its Government.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh accused Modi of working overtime to raise such issues and not addressing the day-to-day concerns of the common man.
“The Prime Minister only diverts and distracts. The Prime Minister works overtime to raise divisive and polarising issues. He never tries to bring a consensus. He never addresses the real day-to-day concerns of people,” Ramesh told reporters here.
“While Manipur is burning, China is sitting on Indian territory, people are struggling with rising prices and unemployment, the Prime Minister is on a different note,” the former Union minister said.
He further alleged that the Prime Minister is trying to raise such divisive and polarising issues only to divert the attention of people from the failures of his Government.
The Congress has been adopting a cautious approach on the UCC issue. The top leadership of the party discussed the issue at length at its strategy group meeting on Saturday. Insiders say the opposition party is hoping that the debate on the issue will settle soon.
The Congress has said there is no change in its stand on the issue, as enumerated in its June 15 statement where it questioned the law commission for changing its stand on a UCC by inviting fresh public opinion.
Ramesh said since there has been no significant development in the matter in the last 15 days, the party has nothing to add to it as of now.
“We issued a statement on June 15. There has been no change in our stand on a UCC,” he added.
“When there is a draft and a discussion, we will participate and examine what is proposed. As of now, all we have is a Law Commission public notice for responses. The Congress reiterates the statement as nothing new has happened,” he said.
The Congress had alleged that the Law Commission’s latest attempt to seek fresh public opinion on a UCC represents the Modi Government’s desperation for continuing with its agenda of polarisation and diversion from its failures. (PTI)
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