Dimapur, June 25 (MExN): The Nagaland Joint Christian Forum (NJCF), comprising of all the Christian denomination in Nagaland, today expressed its strong protest against the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and stated that it goes contrary to the ideals of the country’s fabrics of secularism.
“The resurfacing of UCC at this time is seen as another ploy of the BJP at the centre,” asserted the NJCF in a statement issued by its vice president Rev Dr N Paphino.
The Forum further pointed out that India has always presented herself as an embracive country respecting the religion, culture and social practices of the individuals and the minorities to the outside world.
“Yet, with UCC floating around again, testing the water, it portrays another totally different picture within,” it said.
NJCF pointed out that once the UCC is “enacted as law the whole structure of culture, religion and social practices of different communities will fall flat in the hand of the majority which in many ways will amount to suppression and forced upon.”
“Respect for the minority will be snatched away. Therefore, the NJCF will continue to oppose such move,” it said, adding at any given period, the Forum would “see the move as undesirable and not applicable in democratic nation.”
It amounts to disrespect and term it insensitive to people’s sentiments, it said, pointing out that diversity has been seen as the beauty of India.
“Seeking uniformity in personal laws which governs the multiracial nation is an off sided approach and therefore amounts to being selfish and going beyond the welfare of the country,” the NJCF noted.
“Secularism has meaning only when there is diversity. Be it religion or region, culture or social practices, it should not get subsumed under the power and voice of the majority,” it added.
Accordingly, the Forum said that any move to implement the UCC is "dangerous” as it would curtail the freedom of the people, especially that of the religious minorities and the tribal community in the country.
It further reminded the leaders of the nation to “build confidence in the already shattered minds of the minorities who are threatened in all corners of life in the country.”
“Learning to coexist together respecting others and tolerating each other is the need of the hour and not UCC,” it added.
It must be noted here that on June 24, the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) and Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) in separate statements had voiced their strong opposition against the move to implement UCC in the country.
Resurfacing of UCC debate
The debates over the UCC have re-emerged in the recent past after the 22nd Law Commission of India through a public notice on June 14 decided again to solicit views and ideas of the public at large and recognised religious organisations about the UCC.
Those who are interested and willing may present their views within a period of 30 days from the date of Notice at a designated page on the Union Ministry of Law & Justice, Department Of Legal Affairs’ website https://legalaffairs.gov.in/law_commission/ucc/ or by emailing to Member Secretary, Law Commission of India at membersecretary-lci@gov.in.
The concerned stakeholders can also make submissions in the form of consultation, discussion or working papers on any of the issues pertaining to the UCC to the “Member Secretary, Law Commission of India, 4th Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan, Khan Market, New Delhi – 110 003,” the notice informed.
If need be, Commission may call upon any individual or organisation for a personal hearing or discussion, it added.
