JD(U) opposes Uniform Civil Code implementation in Bihar despite NDA alliance

NEW DELHI: Senior JD(U) leader Shyam Rajak on Monday said the party was opposed to implementing the Uniform Civil Code in Bihar, despite having "supported the UCC Bill" in Parliament. The former JD(U) national general secretary said the party's position on the issue had been clearly articulated by its supreme leader and former chief minister Nitish Kumar.

"Our stand on the issue was made clear by our leader way back. He had said that although our party was supporting the UCC Bill in the Parliament, it was not in favour of implementing the same in Bihar," Rajak said. When asked whether the JD(U)'s position would have little significance with Nitish Kumar stepping down and BJP leader Samrat Choudhary becoming the new chief minister, Rajak strongly rejected the suggestion. "The chief minister may be of the BJP but the government is being run with the help of allies... our stand is clear, the question of implementing UCC in Bihar does not arise," he said. When approached for a comment, JD(U) legislature party leader and minister Shrawon Kumar said, "This is an issue on which our spokespersons shall speak. I would like to hear what they say, and then I will say more."

Meanwhile, JD(U) working president Sanjay Jha on Monday said party leaders would soon meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code in states. “We will soon meet Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss the issue,” Jha told news agency PTI. With 12 Lok Sabha MPs, the JD(U) is a key constituent of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and shares power with the BJP in Bihar. The development comes a day after Shah asserted that NDA governments in 21 states would introduce UCC before 2029. Addressing a press conference in Mumbai on Sunday, Shah highlighted the government's initiatives for women and said, “Triple talaq has been abolished, giving Muslim women equal rights. We have introduced UCC in several states, and I am confident that in the 21 BJP-NDA ruled states, we will introduce the UCC before 2029.” The press conference was held to announce a month-long campaign beginning September 17 to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 76th birthday and 25 years of his public service, which began with his tenure as Gujarat chief minister.