JDU to Meet Amit Shah on UCC; Chirag Paswan Seeks Stakeholder Views

JD(U) Plans Meeting With Amit Shah Over UCC

The Janata Dal (United) is preparing to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC), party working president Sanjay Jha said.

The development follows Shah's recent statement that NDA governments in 21 states would implement the UCC before the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. Jha said the party would discuss the issue with Shah before taking a clear position.

JD(U) Maintains Cautious Position

JD(U), a key partner in the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, has previously called for wider consultation on the UCC.

Party leader Neeraj Kumar said the position taken by Nitish Kumar in a 2017 letter to the Law Commission remains an important reference for JD(U). The party had advocated consultation with all stakeholders and stressed that no community should feel adversely affected by the proposed legislation.

No Draft Yet, Says JD(U)

JD(U) leaders have also pointed out that no official draft of a central UCC has been made public so far.

Neeraj Kumar said the party would examine the actual provisions before reaching a final conclusion. This suggests that JD(U) is keeping its position open until the details of the proposed framework become available.

Chirag Paswan Calls for Wider Consultation

Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader and Union Minister Chirag Paswan has also adopted a cautious approach.

Paswan said his party would announce its official position only after examining the draft. He called for the draft to be made public, an assessment of the interests of different stakeholders and extensive discussions before any decision is taken.

Diversity at Centre of UCC Debate

Paswan emphasised India's diverse social and cultural structure, arguing that different communities have their own customs and traditions.

He pointed to constitutional provisions and protections for tribal communities as examples of India's recognition of diversity. His comments suggest that LJP (Ram Vilas) wants equality and uniformity to be considered alongside India's diverse traditions.

TDP Also Yet to Take a Final Position

The Telugu Desam Party, another important NDA ally, has also not immediately endorsed Amit Shah's announcement.

A TDP spokesperson said the party was aware of the Home Minister's statement and would comment at the appropriate time. The party had previously expressed concerns about legislation that could hurt the religious sentiments of particular communities.

UCC Implementation Gains Political Momentum

The BJP has been pursuing UCC implementation through individual states, taking into account differences in their social structures. Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Assam and Gujarat have passed UCC legislation, while several other states are examining or preparing frameworks for implementation.

Amit Shah's announcement of a 2029 target has now brought the positions of NDA allies into sharper focus. The responses from JD(U), LJP (Ram Vilas) and TDP indicate that coalition consensus and stakeholder consultation could become important factors in the next phase of the UCC debate.

Conclusion

The Uniform Civil Code has emerged as a significant issue within the BJP-led NDA following Amit Shah's announcement of implementation across NDA-ruled states before 2029. JD(U) plans to discuss the matter directly with Shah, while Chirag Paswan has called for the draft to be made public and for extensive stakeholder consultations. The differing approaches of NDA partners indicate that building consensus will be an important part of the UCC implementation process.