One Nation, One Election and UCC to be implemented in next term, says Amit Shah

NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) will be implemented in the country within the next five years if the BJP returns to power. He further said the Modi government in its next term will also implement 'One Nation, One Election' as the time has come for the elections to be held simultaneously in the country.

The minister also spoke about moving elections to other time of the year as the current one was held in scorching heat.

"We can think over it. If we prepone one election, it can be done. It should be done. This is also the time of students' vacation. It creates lots of problems too. Over time, the election gradually moved to this period."

"The guiding principles decided for us by the Constituent Assembly include the Uniform Civil Code. And even at that time, legal scholars like K M Munshi, Rajendra Babu, Ambedkar Ji had said that there should not be laws based on religion in a secular country. There should be a Uniform Civil Code," he said.

The UCC has been part of the BJP's agenda since the 1950s and recently it was implemented in BJP-ruled Uttarakhand.

"I believe that the Uniform Civil Code is a huge social, legal, and religious reform. The law made by the Uttarakhand government should undergo social and legal scrutiny. Religious leaders should also be consulted," he said.

"What I mean is that there should be an extensive debate on this. And if there is anything to change in the model law made by the Uttarakhand government after this extensive debate. Because someone will definitely go to court. The judiciary's opinion will also come.

"After that, the state legislatures and Parliament of the country should think seriously over this and a law must be enacted. That is why we have written in our 'sankalp patra' that the BJP aims to have a Uniform Civil Code for the entire country," he added.

"We will also make every effort to achieve 'One Nation, One Election'. This should also be discussed," said Shah when asked about holding simultaneous polls

"The Prime Minister had formed the Ram Nath Kovind committee. I was also a member of it. Its report has been submitted. The time has come that elections should be held simultaneously in the country," he added.

Shah said a bill on this can be brought in the next five years.

"BJP believes that there cannot be gender equality till such time Bharat adopts a Uniform Civil Code, which protects the rights of all women, and the BJP reiterates its stand to draw a Uniform Civil Code, drawing upon the best traditions and harmonising them with the modern times," the manifesto has said.

According to the BJP manifesto, the Modi government had set up a high-powered panel to examine the issues of conducting simultaneous elections and in turn will work towards the implementation of the recommendations of the panel.

It further promised to make provisions for a common electoral roll for all levels of elections.