After Bhagwant Mann’s Civil Code Remark, Akali Dal Says “Spell Out Stand”

Chandigarh:

The Aam Aadmi Occasion (AAP) is a secular celebration and has no intention to tinker with social customs of any group, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann mentioned at present, prompting questions on what’s the celebration’s precise stand on a Uniform Civil Code for all Indians.

Mr Mann’s assertion comes days after senior AAP chief Sandeep Pathak informed the media that AAP helps Uniform Civil Code “in precept”.

“In precept, we assist a Uniform Civil Code. The Structure’s Article 44 additionally helps it. However since this challenge issues all spiritual communities, there needs to be wide-ranging consultations and efforts to construct consensus,” Mr Pathak, AAP’s nationwide normal secretary (organisation) and a Rajya Sabha MP, mentioned final week.

Mr Pathak’s remarks had come after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a robust pitch for the Uniform Civil Code, making it clear that it will likely be a key ballot plank for the BJP for the 2024 normal election.

The AAP chief’s remarks have been additionally seen towards the backdrop of its face-off with the Congress. The Arvind Kejriwal-led celebration has mentioned it could be “very troublesome” to affix any Opposition entrance comprising the Congress until the latter backs it towards centre’s ordinance to regulate Delhi bureaucrats.

Responding to a query on the Uniform Civil Code, the Punjab Chief Minister listed the totally different customs adopted by totally different communities within the nation and in contrast India to a bouquet. “Ought to there be just one color in a bouquet?” he requested. Mr Mann additionally mentioned that each faith has its personal tradition and customs, so there’s a have to construct a consensus.

“I do not know why they’re tinkering with these customs? Do not break down communities into tribes,” he mentioned in Punjabi.

In the meantime, senior AAP chief has defended Mr Mann’s assertion and mentioned, “I heard Bhagwant Mann ji‘s assertion. He mentioned talks needs to be held with all stakeholders and that is what the AAP’s stand is.”

He additionally accused the timing of the BJP and mentioned the Union Authorities is elevating the difficulty now with its eye on polls.

Mr Mann mentioned that these supporting the Uniform Civil Code say it would make everybody socially equal. “Will everybody be socially equal? No. There are such a lot of downtrodden individuals, they don’t seem to be getting alternatives,” he mentioned.

Accusing the BJP of elevating the difficulty with a watch on polls, he mentioned, “The AAP doesn’t tinker with such practices, AAP is a secular celebration, we simply need the nation to turn into Number one.”

Mr Mann’s remarks drew a pointy response from Shiromani Akali Dal, which had earlier focused AAP on its assist to the Uniform Civil Code. “The Punjab CM @BhagwantMann ought to now inform AAP Convener @ArvindKejriwal to obviously spell out (the) celebration’s stand on UCC & finish AAP’s double communicate on this delicate challenge. It’s surprising that AAP desires to vote in favour of UCC in Rajya Sabha at the same time as Bhagwant Mann is befooling Punjabis by asserting that celebration is towards it in Punjab,” Akali Dal chief Daljit S Cheema mentioned in a video assertion.

The Punjab CM @BhagwantMann ought to now inform AAP Convener @ArvindKejriwal to obviously spell out celebration ‘s stand on UCC & finish AAP’s double communicate on this delicate challenge. It’s surprising that AAP desires to vote in favour of UCC in Rajya Sabha at the same time as Bhagwant Mann is befooling Punjabis… pic.twitter.com/PKaTuEaus0

— Dr Daljit S Cheema (@drcheemasad) July 4, 2023

The Akali Dal has sensed a political alternative in Punjab after the AAP’s “in-principle” assist to Uniform Civil Code.

Sikhs account for almost 60 per cent of Punjab’s inhabitants. The group’s key leaders and organisations have been underlining the distinct identification of the Sikh group and have, previously, accused the BJP of distorting their historical past as half of a bigger Hindutva push.

Final yr, the Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), which controls gurdwaras in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, had issued a press release towards the Uniform Civil Code, saying it’s not within the curiosity of the nation.

The SGPC is presently dominated by Akali Dal members. This has repeatedly put it on a collision course with the Bhagwant Mann authorities, most just lately over the ruling AAP’s push without spending a dime broadcast of gurbani from the Golden Temple, probably the most revered shrine of the Sikhs.

Towards this backdrop, Akali Dal, a panthic celebration, is now attempting to nook AAP on the politically important challenge and regain misplaced floor.