How the UCC Bill in Monsoon Session will trap opposition

New Delhi: Days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a pitch for implementation of the Uniform Civil Code in the country, the Central government is learnt to be preparing to introduce a Bill on the proposed legislation in the forthcoming Monsoon session of Parliament.

The BJP wants to introduce the UCC as it has been a long pending promise of the saffron party in its manifestos over the past few decades. With two other important promises, the construction of Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya and the abrogation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir on delivery stage, the BJP wants to go in front of its supporters with the UCC enactment ahead of 2024 general elections, sources said.

Moreover, sources pointed out that the forthcoming Monsoon Session is likely to begin in July the new Parliament building and the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government wants it to be a historical one by fulfilling its UCC promise. 

With the introduction of this historical legislation in the first session of the new building the saffron party wants to leave its indelible imprint on the history of the country.

That is the reason that the government is pushing through with the process as it wants adequate time for getting the legislation through and also for its implementation before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, sources pointed out.   

The early introduction of the proposed law would also give the Modi government ample time to hold consultations, create awareness regarding the benefits of UCC implementation and remove doubts amongst the minds of various minorities, sources added.  

This is the reason that the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice has called for a discussion on the issue on July 3.

The Panel headed by senior BJP MP Sushil Modi would hear the views of officials from the Department of Legal Affairs, Legislative Department, and Law Commission on the UCC. This comes days after the Law Commission of India sought views on the issue from various stakeholders. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier this week made a strong case for the implementation of the UCC. However, this has triggered a war of words between the BJP and the Opposition.

Several parties including Congress, Trinamool Congress, JD(U), RJD, SP, CPI(M), AIADMK and CPI have opposed the proposed legislation. The government is soon likely to reach out to these parties to try and build a political consensus on the issue, sources said.

Why BJP wants UCC before the 2024 polls?

It is understood that BJP is pushing through the UCC keeping the 2024 Lok Sabha polls in mind and hopes it can be a game changer ensuring its return to power for an unprecedented third term.  

With Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to seek another term in office in 2024, the BJP feels that the implementation of UCC along with the construction of Ram Janmbhoomi Temple in Ayodhya can be the two issues that could easily see it through. 

The saffron party is again targeting a tally of 300 plus in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and with these two issues, the party feels that it has found a magical combination to make it through.

Sources pointed out that through the construction of Ram Janmbhoomi Temple, likely to be inaugurated in early 2024, the party is targeting staunch Hindutva voters. At the same time, UCC can woo more liberal and secular Hindu voters. A combination of these two classes of voters would be a deadly one that could enable the party to secure a third term for PM Modi.

By implementing this two-pronged strategy, the BJP hopes that it can trap the opposition into throwing away its soft Hindutva cloak which many parties, including the Congress and AAP have been trying to wear as the election nears.