Says it is a move to manipulate social, culture and religious rights of the minority
DIMAPUR, JUNE 24 (MExN): The Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) on Saturday came out strongly against the move to implement Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the country.
Terming it as a move by the present BJP led government at the center to manipulate the social, culture and religious rights of the minority, NBCC general secretary Rev Dr Zelhou Keyho in a press statement said “it is nothing but to establish supremacy over the tribals and the religious minority for their own benefit.”
“Codifying the social-cultural and the religious practices by way of negating the deep rooted values and norms of the people, especially that of the tribals and the religious minority will amount to violation of the fundamental rights of the marginalized minority in the country,” the NBCC stated.
Since UCC ensures that the law is uniformly applied to all citizens, regardless of their religious or community background, the NBCC claimed that once this get through, the entire Article in the constitution guaranteeing freedom of religion and constitutional freedom to practice the religion of choice which allows religious communities to follow their respective personal laws will be snapped.
The apex church body also noted that religion and faith are personal and the practices cannot be codified. In a secular nation, the law cannot prescribe on religious matter. Rather, preserving diversity and multiculturalism has to take the center stage quarantining confidence in the minds and lives of her citizens. It must never be forgotten that secularism has been defined as the strength of Indian democracy, it maintained.
The NBCC also stated that of late, the minority communities in the country have been cornered and many times left ignored and undefended. In such a scenario, to say the least, the word ‘uniformity’ is a threat because it conveys dominance and supremacy of the majority, it added.
The NBCC also said the appeal sent out by the Law Commission seeking feedback and reflection is no doubt with good intention, namely, “to address discrimination against vulnerable groups and harmonize the various practices.” However, it sought to point out that what is being missed here is to acknowledge that India is a nation with diverse religion and culture and the social fabrics of the nation a complicated one.
“India is not a homogenous society. By race, culture and religion we are all different yet, together we make a great nation. We have the world in one nation. India has given birth to some towering religions and are host to different world religions as well. India has become the melting pots of cultures and social practices. What binds us to together is the face of secularism and this must be expanded so that peaceful coexistence will be appreciated and adhered to.”
Stating that the religions, cultures and social practices of her citizens must be given a big space to thrive, the NBCC said the UCC as a desperate move of the majority to dominate and control the minority groups in the big nation, India.
“It is a move to avoid plurality of religious and culture-custom practices. It is nothing more than to silence the rights of the marginalized communities and the vulnerable groups by taking away their socio-religious-cultural rights.”
As for Christians, the NBCC pointed out that “when it comes to our religion practices, we have our Bible and the practices are embedded in our sacred book which cannot be compromised.”
It said UCC is a move to rewrite the whole history in the light of one particular community and impose its social, cultural and religious practices on the minority.
