Assembly records reveal CPM was in favour of UCC 38 years ago

Thiruvananthapuram: In the light of the heated discussion regarding the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), Assembly records show that the CPM had once demanded the state government to organize a campaign to sensitize people about the significance of the UCC. CPM had put forth a demand that a secular officer from the culture department should be deputed for this task.

The contents of the unearthed documents say that the CPM, which is presently agitating against the UCC, advocated for its implementation 38 years ago. 

On 9 July 1985, the communist party had urged the government to clarify its stance regarding the issue of the implementation of the UCC. The members who raised this stipulation included M.V Raghavan, K.P Aravindakshan, V.J Thankappan, K.R Gauri, C.T Krishnan, E Padmanabhan, O Bharathan, P.V Kunhikannan, A.K Padmanabhan, etc. 

Since the then Chief Minister K. Karunakaran was not present in the assembly, Irrigation Minister M.P Gangadaran had responded to the question. The first question raised was whether the Central government had sought the opinion of the State Social Welfare Boards to create a favorable opinion among the minorities about the UCC. 

M.V Raghavan was not satisfied with the Minister’s reply stating that nothing new was under consideration. He enquired as to why only Kerala was exempted when the Centre had made it clear that it would seek the opinions of the states regarding the matter. He also pointed out the difficulties of not having a Uniform Civil Code. 

The CPM also catechized the Muslim League’s stance on the UCC. Then leader of the opposition, E.K Nayanar also elucidated the importance of having a Uniform Civil Code.