New Delhi: A private member’s bill to implement the Uniform Civil Code in India was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on Friday. BJP MP Kirori Lal Meena presented it. The bill was passed with 63 votes in favour and 23 against it.

The bill demands that a National Inspection and Investigation Commission be set up to implement the Uniform Civil Code in the country.

All opposition parties, including the Congress, Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, DMK, NCP and TMC, strongly opposed the introduction of the bill. Opposing the introduction of the bill, Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav said that Muslims consider it right to marry their cousin whether Hindus can do it. That is why all religions have different traditions. Biju Janata Dal did not participate in the voting and staged a walkout from the House.

What was discussed?

Speaking on behalf of the government, Union Minister and Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha Piyush Goyal said that any member has the right to introduce a bill and raise issues of his area. He told all the opposing parties that after the introduction of the bill, when it is discussed, then every party will be able to express its views. For this, there should be a debate in the Rajya Sabha. CPI(M) MP John Brittas, citing the Law Commission’s report, said there was no need for a Uniform Civil Code.

For the last several months, there has been a continuous demand for the implementation of uniform civil code in the country. BJP-ruled states like Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Karnataka have already said to start the process of implementing the Uniform Civil Code. In such a situation, the bill presented today is important.

However, it is not easy to pass a private member’s bill in Parliament. Till date, only 3 private member bills have been passed in the history of Parliament. The last time such a bill was passed was in 1971.

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