Dehradun: February 6th marks a significant day for Uttarakhand as a proposal for uniform civil laws was presented in the state assembly to formalize its legal framework. However, the opposition Congress expressed dissatisfaction over the limited time provided to review the bill.
"We will pass this bill tomorrow," said BJP - Due to inadequate time for scrutiny, Congress leaders declined to engage in the evening debate and requested additional time. Prem Chandra Agarwal, the state's parliamentary affairs minister, declared, "As Congress leaders have opted out of discussions, we intend to pass this bill tomorrow." He further noted, "While the opposition claims insufficient time for evaluating the UCC bill, they also raise concerns about its loopholes."
UCC Bill Likely to Pass Today; Congress Requests More Time for Study
Tuesday saw discussions throughout the day in the Uttarakhand assembly regarding the UCC bill. Both the ruling BJP and opposition Congress deliberated on various aspects of the bill before its potential enactment, emphasizing uniform civil laws in Uttarakhand.
Congress leader Pritam Singh remarked, "We must ensure constitutional provisions are not violated. Our stance will be decided accordingly before the bill is approved." Leader of the opposition Yashpal Arya and MLA Pritam Singh from Chakrata resigned from the Assembly’s Business Advisory Committee, alleging disregard for the house's traditions by the BJP.
BJP Celebrates UCC in Assembly: State BJP leaders expressed delight over the bill. Women and Child Development Minister Rekha Arya hailed its introduction as a historic moment for Uttarakhand, setting an example for other states. Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal assured that UCC implementation would not disrupt religious customs and traditions, but rather enhance women's status.
Founder of Vishv Hindu Parishad, Praveen Togadiya, emphasized in Haldwani the importance of a single legal framework for the nation, criticizing the idea of separate laws based on religion or Shariah as akin to creating a second Pakistan. He commended Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami for supporting the UCC bill proposed by the Uttarakhand government.
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