As NDA Partner, TDP Bound by Amit Shah's Statement on UCC: Srinivasa Rao

Recently, Shah said that the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) would be introduced in all states ruled by NDA before the 2029 general election, drawing sharp reactions from opposition parties.

"Yes, I have seen our Union home minister's statement on UCC and as NDA partners we are bound to go by his statement," Rao, who represents Gajuwaka assembly constituency, told PTI Videos.

Though there is criticisms over UCC, he noted that it "strengthens the unity of the country and doesn't show much gender bias."

"And critics, of course, some say that it (UCC) infringes on religious freedom, our country is culturally diverse, it infringes on freedom. But we always think that this UCC will strengthen and unify the country," he said.

"So, we will be going by our home minister's statement being NDA partners," he added.

Meanwhile, CPI(M) state secretary V Srinivas Rao claimed that the BJP is resorting to UCC politics to divert the country's attention as it is facing heat from the new generation (Gen Z), unemployment and other reasons, especially in the backdrop of the recent Jantar Mantar student protest movement.

Accusing the BJP of dividing people on communal lines, Srinivas Rao asserted that the UCC envisioned by BR Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution, was entirely different during the Constituent Assembly debates.

"Actually, we are asking for equality civil code and entirely opposite to UCC," he said, adding that whatever be the religion, "all women are suppressed."

"So, to protect the rights of women and empower them, any type of personal laws should be meant for equality for (of) women. What the BJP is now saying in UCC is imposing Hindu personal laws on all religions, not only minorities within Hindus," he told PTI Videos.

Underscoring the diverse nature of the country, the CPI(M) secretary emphasised that there are several local customs and traditions pertaining to marriages, families, divorces, property and others in every state, wondering how UCC can be imposed on all religions.

Rao said the Left party would oppose the UCC entirely "meant for communal division" and vowed that it will fight for the "equality civil code."