Govt must take society into confidence: Cong on Uniform Civil Code

New Delhi: In the face of strong opposition to the Uniform Civil Code by Muslim outfits, the Congress Party on Saturday said it is the society`s free will to accept something and the government`s duty to assure the same.

"If we talk about the Uniform Civil Code, the architect of the Constitution, Babasaheb Ambedkar himself said that Uniform Civil Code can happen when the society is itself freely ready for it," Congress leader Shobha Oza told ANI.

"Nothing can be forced upon a society. It is the government`s responsibility to create such an environment for the nation, take the society into confidence and convince the society that they have equal rights and will go ahead by taking everyone along. It is the government`s duty to create such an environment in the country," she added.

Commenting on the triple talaq, she said this issue is sub-judice, adding the women of this nation fully trust the Supreme Court."The Supreme Court has protected the well-being of the women of the nation earlier too. So, we will welcome whatever decision the court takes," she told ANI.

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), along with several other organisations associated with the Muslim community, has opposed the Law Commission`s questionnaire on the possibility of the UCC, declaring that the move amounts to Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government declaring "war" on their religious rights.

The threat of Muslim organisations to "boycott" the Law Commission questionnaire also comes in the backdrop of the Supreme Court hearing a challenge to triple talaq where the Centre termed the custom unconstitutional and violative of gender equality.

Accusing the government of waging "war" against the community and contending that the UCC, if implemented, will threaten the country`s pluralism, the Muslim organisations have said that they would start a campaign to withdraw the Law Commission`s move.