Modi bats for uniform civil code

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday made a strong pitch for a uniform civil code, a key ideological issue for his Bharatiya Janata Party, and had a dig at the opposition parties' attempts to firm up a united front against him in coming general elections.

"Muslims of India should understand who are those inciting them for their own gains. Today we are seeing some people inciting others (Muslims) in the name of uniform civil code. The Constitution talks about equal rights to the citizens. The Supreme Court too has backed it," Modi said during an interactive session with BJP workers in Bhopal.

Asked by a BJP worker about triple talaq, Modi said those opposing triple talaq "are doing injustice to the Muslim women. Several Muslim-dominated countries have banned triple talaq."

"People who advocate triple talaq are vote bank-hungry and they are doing injustice to Muslim women. triple talaq destroys the entire family," he added.

Modi said if triple talaq had been an important aspect of Islam, "then why is it not there in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Indonesia, Qatar, Jordon and Syria?"

Recalling his recent visit to Cairo, he said Egypt had "removed" the practice of triple talaq "80-90 years ago.

"Some people want the license to discriminate against Muslim women all the time through the triple talaq noose," said Modi.

Modi said the Supreme Court has maintained that there should be universal civil code but political parties who believe in appeasement politics oppose it.

"The politics of appeasement by a few political parties with vested interests is causing social rifts," said the PM.

Referring to the opposition parties meeting to forge unity among them to take on BJP in coming parliamentary elections, Modi said "those (opposition leaders) who used to curse and abuse each other are now touching each other's feet. Such is the level of their desperation."

"These opposition parties are a guarantee of corruption and scams. A few days ago, there was photo-op event of these parties. History of these parties shows that all of them together were involved in scams running into over Rs 20 lakh crore," he said.

Modi named Congress, RJD, DMK, TMC and NCP, and cited cases of alleged corruption in which leaders of these parties are accused.

"The anxiety among the opposition parties is making it evident that the people have decided to bring the BJP to power in 2024. A massive victory for the BJP is certain in 2024. This is the reason why these opposition parties are freaking out," according to Modi.

"The desperation among these parties was not as palpable in 2914 and 2019 as it has been now. Those who used to abuse Congress have bowed to the later. Their desperation shows that these parties have realized that the BJP is poised to win 2024 Lok Sabha polls," Modi said.