BJP selling divisive agenda with sophistry: CPI(M)

NEW DELHI: The CPI(M) today accused the Centre of selling "divisive agenda with sophistry" after Arun Jaitley cited Constitution while referring to Uniform Civil Code and prohibiting cow slaughter, but was "silent" on Articles dealing with securing welfare of people.

"Arun Jaitley ji waxes eloquent on Article 44 & 48. But silent on Article such as 41, 42, 43, 45 etc. aimed at securing welfare of ordinary people.

"Divisive agenda sold with sophistry. @cpimspeak @CPIMPARLIAMENT," party general secretary Sitaram Yechury tweeted.

Seeking to needle the opposition which has been targeting the government over "intolerance" during special sitting of Parliament, Jaitley today asked how the House would react if Constitution architect Babasaheb Ambedkar had made his 1949 speech today for implementing Article 44 (that calls for bringing in Uniform Civil code) and Article 48 (that calls for prohibiting cow slaughter).

The Union minister stressed that there should be no state religion and theocracy should not be practised as enshrined in the Constitution.

In the present times, Yechury said, the "biggest challenge" to any Constitutional system in the world is terrorism and there should be united fight against it instead of some adopting a "soft" approach for vote bank politics.

The two-day special sitting of Parliament is taking place to commemorate adoption of Constitution and Ambedkar.