BJD bats for debate on Uniform Civil Code

NEW DELHI: The BJD today batted for a debate on Uniform Civil Code in Parliament, against the backdrop of the Supreme Court asking the government to come up with a view on the contentious issue.

"The Supreme Court has asked the government to take a quick decision on the Uniform Civil Code. Article 44 of the Indian Constitution states that India should strive to have a Uniform Civil Code. The Constitution has enough powers for protection of rights of the minorities and the government should begin a discussion on the issue," BJD leader B Mahtab said while participating in a debate in Lok Sabha on the Constitution.

Yesterday, Minister for Social Justice Thawarchand Gehlot had made a strong pitch for implementation of the Uniform Civil Code.

The BJD leader also attacked the BJP for disrupting the House and said his party did not advocate such "unconstitutional ways".

"Everytime we see the House in assembly there are people who jump into the well. Our party is not capable of getting our work done in an unconstitutional way. Is this freedom or the right we have achieved?" Mahtab said.

He said the treasury benches should not consider the Rajya Sabha as a stumble because of the lack of numbers and the core principle is debate and discussion.

Mahtab said a lot was being said on cooperative fedralism but the country should also focus on fiscal federalism.

"There is a need to introduce fiscal federalism, German way of implementing fiscal federalism," he said.