The Vishwa Hindu Parishad has said the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) should be implemented across India before 2029, a day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the BJP-led NDA would introduce the measure in all 21 states it governs by that year.
VHP international president Alok Kumar said the proposed law should not be viewed as “anti-Muslim” and argued that it was intended to promote gender justice and uniformity in matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance and succession.
VHP Says UCC Should Apply to All Citizens
Kumar said the country should be governed by laws based on constitutional values rather than Sharia law.
“The country will not be run by Sharia law but by a law that ensures the uniform values enshrined in the Constitution,” he said.
He criticised opposition to the UCC, saying the debate had often been framed around its possible impact on Muslim personal laws instead of its wider objectives.
“It is curious to note that a section of society is against UCC as a whole, even though it never objects to any specific measure,” Kumar said.
According to the VHP leader, the proposed code aims to establish common rules for civil matters while ensuring equal rights for citizens.
What Is the Uniform Civil Code?
The Uniform Civil Code proposes replacing religion-based personal laws with a common set of secular laws governing marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption and succession.
At present, several civil matters in India are governed by different religious laws and customs.
Supporters of the UCC argue that a common legal framework would promote equality, particularly for women. Opponents have raised concerns about religious freedom, customary practices and constitutional protections for religious and cultural communities.
VHP Calls for Implementation Before 2029
Kumar said states with strong majorities should have little difficulty passing legislation on the issue.
“UCC should be enforced nationally much before 2029,” he said.
He added that several states had already considered or introduced measures related to the code and urged other BJP-governed states to follow.
Uttarakhand has already enacted a Uniform Civil Code, providing an example for other states considering similar legislation.
UCC Gains Political Importance
The BJP has long identified the UCC as one of its core ideological issues, along with the construction of the Ram Temple and the abrogation of Article 370.
With the latter two issues addressed during the Narendra Modi government, the UCC has increasingly become a major political and legislative priority for the BJP and organisations associated with the Hindutva movement.
Amit Shah’s statement has placed a political timeline on the issue ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections and upcoming Assembly elections in several states.
