Amit Shah Says Uniform Civil Code will be implemented in all BJP-NDA states before 2029

Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced his belief on Sunday that the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) will be enforced in 21 BJP and NDA ruled states before 2029.

In a telephonic conversation with reporters here, Amit Shah said several States had already adopted the Uniform Civil Code and suggested that the rest of the BJP and NDA led States would do so by 2029.

In many states we have enacted the Uniform Civil Code.” I believe UCC will be present in all BJP and NDA ruled states by 2029,” Shah added.

The Uniform Civil Code proposes to have a single personal law for all the citizens with respect to such matters as marriage, divorce, personal laws of inheritance and adoption irrespective of religion. The problem is that it was integral to the ‘political agenda’ of the BJP from a long time.

Naturally, other BJP-governed states have mentioned that they will look into or consider introducing such a UCC as well, and Uttarakhand is the first state in independent India to have such a law in place.

The comment by Shah also underlines the Centre and BJP’s commitment of broadening the policy in party-and-ally-governed States. Implementing the UCC has however proved to be a sensitive political and legal issue with on-going argumentation on religious personal laws and constitutional rights and reach of state legislation.

The 2029 target can be expected to be centre stage for the next few years in the political and legal agenda of the BJP-led alliance, with Shah emphasising its importance.