BJP may keep Uniform Civil Code issue alive till 2019: CPI

CPI General Secretary S Sudhakar Reddy sees the current debate on the code as a 'diversionary tactic' adopted by the BJP-led NDA govt

Claiming that Uniform Civil Code issue is another "trump-card" of the BJP, the Communist Party of India, on Tuesday alleged that the lead party of NDA government might try to keep it alive till the 2019 Lok Sabha elections with an aim to reap political dividends.

CPI General Secretary S Sudhakar Reddy sees the current debate on the code as a "diversionary tactic" adopted by the BJP-led NDA government.

He expressed the view that the code is a "diverse and complex issue" and not an "urgent issue at the moment" as "there are so many other problems".

Reddy, however, said there is a necessity to take a relook at the triple talaq issue.

"Some reform should come (in Muslim Personal Law) but it is necessary to convince the minority community (on the need for it)", he told PTI.

"This (debate on the code and triple talaq, among others) is being brought as a diversionary tactic. There is necessity to discuss the whole in the Muslim community itself about such demand for reforms," he said.

"It's not something urgent to divide the nation on that issue and I don't think the government is serious in bringing the code. The debate before the Uttar Pradesh elections (due early next year) is aimed to get political dividends," Reddy alleged.

Asked if he expected the code issue to "die down" after Uttar Pradesh elections, he said, "They may continue till 2019 also. This (the code) is another trump card like Ayodhya, so called nationalism, patriotism to cover up pro-corporate, anti-labour, anti-people policies of Government of India. They may keep it as an important point of debate.