Digvijay Singh: Seek consensus on common civil code
A debate has begun on the common civil code ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh said the law commission should have an open hearing where all religious and ehtnic groups are consulted, following which a draft that can be accepted by all should be prepared. The BJP has been pressing for the common civil code, but the Samajwadi Party and the BSP have yet to sharpen their position on it.
Mr Singh said that the common civil code was incorporated into the Constitution by the Congress. However, in a multi-ethnic nation like India, it is not easy to codify. It can never be implemented without a consensus, he said.
The common civil code, the abolition of Article 370 and the construction of the Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya are three big issues that have been on the BJP’s agenda.
Neither the Congress nor the SP has dared to take on the Sangh Parivar on these issues till date. One of the reasons for this could be that the debate on these issues could help both the BJP and the SP in the elections as it could polarise voters on communal lines.
While the BJP’s thrust has not been on governance or developments in UP, BSP chief Mayawati is banking heavily on the anti-incumbency factor against Akhilesh.
Yadav government,is confident that attempts of polarisation will help it in consolidating Dalit-Muslims against the BJP.
The Congress party,on the other hand,is optimistic that its Priyanka Gandhi card will revive the party’s fortunes in the UP polls.The Congress is relying on 'managers’ to deliver since it has been laking a 'face’ and leaders who can take on the BJP,the SP and the BSP simultaneously.