Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday questioned the Centre’s move to facilitate the implementation of the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC) through individual states, arguing that a matter of national importance should be debated and decided by Parliament.
Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Abdullah said the government should introduce the UCC as a Bill in Parliament if it has the numbers to get it passed, rather than pursuing what he described as a “backdoor” route through individual states.
The National Conference, he said, had already made its position clear on the issue.
“Legislation on such matters is the responsibility of Parliament. Issues of national importance should not be decided separately by individual states,” Abdullah said.
“If you have the numbers, bring it to Parliament. Why is it being implemented through different states?” he asked.
The J&K chief minister also pointed out that not all allies of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) necessarily support the proposed move.
‘Why Use a Backdoor Route?’
Referring to reports of opposition to the move from Bihar’s ruling Janata Dal (United), Abdullah questioned how the Centre could seek nationwide implementation if some of its own political allies were not prepared to support it.
“If their own people are not ready for it, how can they talk about implementing it across the country?” he said.
Abdullah further claimed that the government was unlikely to have sufficient numbers to pass the legislation in Parliament and alleged that this was why it was pursuing implementation through individual states.
“I don’t think they will be able to get it passed in Parliament. That is why they are taking this route,” he said.
He also questioned the claim that the UCC would be a genuinely universal law if it were implemented only in BJP-ruled states.
“The entire country is not ruled by the BJP. There are several states and Union Territories where the BJP is not in power,” Abdullah said.
He argued that if the UCC is introduced only in states governed by the BJP, it cannot be described as a uniform national framework.
According to Abdullah, a matter of such significance should be addressed at the national level through Parliament rather than being decided separately by individual states.
Hopes for Improvement Along LoC
Abdullah also commented on reports of an improvement in the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), including a reduction in the deployment of Chinese troops.
Describing the reported developments as significant, he expressed hope that the situation would gradually improve along the Line of Control (LoC) as well.
‘India Does Not Need Certificates From Other Countries’
On India’s foreign policy, Abdullah said the country should not be overly concerned with seeking approval or criticism from other nations.
“Our foreign policy is our own. Why should we look for certificates from other countries?” he said.
Abdullah maintained that India should focus on its own national interests while formulating its foreign policy rather than attaching excessive importance to praise or criticism from foreign governments.
He said the ability to pursue an independent foreign policy in accordance with India’s own interests should itself be viewed as a measure of its success.
