JD(U) opposes UCC in Bihar despite backing Bill in Parliament

Patna, Sep 14 (PTI) Senior JD(U) leader Shyam Rajak on Monday asserted that the party was opposed to implementation of the Uniform Civil Code in Bihar, even though it had "supported the UCC Bill" in Parliament.

The former JD(U) national general secretary claimed that its stand on the issue had been clearly spelt out by former chief minister Nitish Kumar, the party's supreme leader.

Rajak was responding to questions from journalists on the statement of Union Home Minister Amit Shah a day ago that the UCC will be "implemented across 21 NDA-ruled states by 2029".

"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 it was pointed out to the former state minister that with Nitish Kumar hanging his boots and BJP leader Samrat Choudhary as the new Chief Minister, the JD(U)'s stand might be of little consequence, Rajak adopted a combative stance.

He said, "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."

Notably, there are apprehensions that the implementation of UCC could annoy the minorities, particularly Muslims, whom the JD(U) has been trying to court for years but without much success because of its tie-up with the BJP, known for its Hindutva hardline.

Rajak's outbursts were reflective of the sentiment in a section of the JD(U), on which the BJP depends for survival in power, at the Centre as well as in the state, that the party must speak out against the proposed move which could hurt it electorally.

Nonetheless, many other JD(U) leaders seem wary of speaking out on the contentious issue.

When minister Shrawon Kumar, who is the JD(U) legislature party leader in the state, was approached for comments, he 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."

On the other hand, JD(U) national spokesman Rajiv Ranjan Prasad gave a curt reply, saying, "On the UCC issue, our national working president Sanjay Kumar Jha will be holding talks with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. This information has been shared by Jha himself".

Meanwhile, the RJD, the main opposition party, alleged that the UCC signalled "politics of hate by the BJP" and would "hurt Muslims".

RJD spokesman Shakti Yadav said in a strongly worded statement that "the BJP has of late faced many setbacks and, therefore, it is back to the politics of hate, its old trick in the book".

"But the BJP must remember that this is Bihar where secularism flows in the veins of the people. The RJD will not take it lying down if any step is taken that could hurt Muslims. We will not let them implement the UCC in the state," he added.