According to Priyank Kharge, the efforts made by the BJP Union Home Minister Amit Shah to revive the discussion on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) suggest that the BJP is not more concerned about the development issues of the citizens but about the realization of their long-term ideological goals. While it cannot be disputed that the matter of the Uniform Civil Code is politically relevant, yet legislation with such important implications needs to be carefully considered.
While the BJP has for years advocated for grand slogans and programs like “Viksit Bharat”, “Skill India”, jobs and investments, the political discourse often tends to swing back towards religion, ideology and identity issues as elections draw near. This dichotomy needs to be examined.
Why is there no similar level of political urgency around good jobs? Why is there no discussion at all around better public schools, better public health care, better skills training, and the challenges facing youth who seek jobs?
RSS has the right to espouse their worldview, and BJP has the right to adopt policies in line with its political agenda. However, governing a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural constitutional democracy goes beyond that. India should not be governed only in accordance with the objectives of any ideology or political constituency.
Thus, what is really being tested by Amit Shah’s UCC move is not whether he is delivering on an ideological commitment but whether he can show that the reforms are being adopted in a transparent, constitutional and consultative manner involving those who are going to be impacted.
If indeed the goal is “Viksit Bharat,” then the development aspect cannot keep getting sidelined in favor of ideological politics.
