UCC will Weaken Our Country
The former Chief Justice of India, Mr. K. G. Balakrishnan said rightly some time ago that a uniform civil code is a highly sensitive issue in our country, where people belonging to different castes, races and communities live, and explained it in detail, saying that “it took thirty years for Britishers to implement the Indian penal code after its codification in the beginning of 1830”.
In a plural society like India only plural laws can give a strong feeling of nationality. Ours is a country of people belonging to different faiths and cultures and of course they must have the laws of their respective choice. The different personal laws in vogue now should continue to exist for the purpose of unity and solidarity of the country. If a uniform civil code is imposed on the unwilling people, it will not only be of no use, but also weaken our country.
There is an urgent need for creating a right atmosphere in the country where people can feel free to think and decide their issues. It is well-known that the Hindu laws are not the same everywhere in the country. The tribals also enjoy their own laws and they continue to receive support from all politicians. As the first step, let the Hindu laws be made uniform.
V.M.Khaleelur Rahman
Ambur, Tamil Nadu
Asking Questions is a Right
The White House reporter for the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) must be commended for asking a relevant question to the Indian Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi, something in which the mainstream electronic media of India has failed miserably.
The ministers of the National Democratic Alliance government are getting increasingly intolerant towards the key questions on the erosion of democracy, protection and rights of the minorities and declining press freedom in India.
A few days ago, Union Finance Minister N. Sitharaman and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh lashed out at the former US President Barack Obama for his statements on the protection and importance of the ethnic minorities of India. Such an immediate overreaction from both the ministers is a manifestation of the fact that Mr. Obama unintentionally touched a raw nerve.
Media is the fourth pillar of democracy and the media persons sincerely discharging their duties must be considered the building blocks of this pillar.
Therefore, such an attack as faced by the WSJ reporter Sabrina Siddiqui needs to be condemned harshly. The worrying trend also signifies that she is not the only victim of this.
Tushar Anand
Patna, Bihar
Opposition Unity Signals a New Urgency
The June 23 unity meet of 15 political parties that was convened by Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar at Patna, was a great success. The Tamilnadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin also attended it. The meeting of leaders of opposition signals a new urgency among them to coordinate their campaigns against the BJP in the forthcoming general elections of 2024. The Tamilnadu Chief Minister has termed it as a ‘war cry of united opposition’ for the rebirth of a secular democratic India. The recent victory of the Congress against BJP in the Karnataka Assembly election has had mixed impact on unity efforts.
Referring to the PM’s latest announcement that a Uniform Civil Code would be brought in the country, Mr. Stalin said it was aimed at creating trouble in the country and firmly hoped that the people had prepared themselves to teach a lesson to the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections. Calling upon the people of Tamilnadu to be prepared to face the situation with a firm resolve and help the foundation of a secular union government as they did unitedly in their state, he said that each of the states would be able to exercise its own rights.
Chowdhry Nisar Ahmed
Noorullah pet, Ambur (Tamil Nadu)