Secular Civil Code need of the hour in India: PM Modi reignites UCC debate at Red Fort | WATCH

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday revisited the Uniform Civil Code during his independence day speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort. 

Prime Minister Modi made a strong pitch for the implementation of a Uniform Civil Code (UCC), asserting that 'a secular civil code is urgently needed to replace the discriminatory communal civil code currently in place.'

PM Modi criticized existing laws that he believes foster societal division and argued for their repeal. The Supreme Court has repeatedly deliberated on the Uniform Civil Code and issued directives because many in our country, and rightly so, see the current civil code as communal and discriminatory, he said.

This was a vision of the framers of our Constitution, and it is our responsibility to realize it, he declared from the Red Fort.

Emphasizing the importance of extensive dialogue, PM Modi called for public participation in shaping the discourse around this issue. He maintained that laws that differentiate citizens based on religion have no place in modern society. 

'Widespread discussions are essential, and everyone should share their perspectives. Laws that create religious divisions must be abolished. A secular civil code is essential to eliminate religious discrimination,' he asserted.

PM Modi's comments come as the BJP and Union Home Minister have pledged to implement the UCC nationwide, mirroring the approach taken in Uttarakhand during the 2024 general election campaign. 

The UCC proposes a unified set of laws governing personal matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, and succession for all citizens. Article 44 of the Constitution supports this concept, though personal matters have traditionally been governed by religion-based civil codes since Independence.

Agencies