Common code will destroy secular fabric: UDF

Amid a raging debate on the Uniform Civil Code, opposition Congress-led UDF in Kerala on Monday hit out at the Centre, saying it had stirred up a controversy as the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls were round the corner.

Speaking to reporters after a UDF meeting, Opposition leader in the Assembly, Ramesh Chennithala said any attempt to bring in a uniform civil code will destroy the secular fabric of the country.

"The BJP government's move is only to reap benefits as the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls are due next year," he said.

The Law Commission's decision to invite views on the contentious UCC has drawn criticism from the All India Muslim Personal Law Board and other Muslim organisations which said they will boycott it and accused the Narendra Modi government of waging a "war" against the community.

"The UDF will start campaign against the proposal to have a common code," Chennithala said.

UDF, which had disrupted most of the assembly proceedings prior to the Pooja holidays protesting the hike in self-financing medical college fees, decided not to continue with the agitation, "but instead will organise 1000 campaigns against the government on nepotism and corruption issues from November 20-26 throughout the state," he said.

The meeting also demanded that the LDF government bring under the ambit of probe appointments made during the term of the V S Achuthanandan headed government.

Chennithala said UDF welcomed the probe ordered by the Pinarayi Vijayan government against appointments made during the previous UDF government headed by Oommen Chandy.

"But it wanted all appointments made during Achuthanandan's tenure also to be probed," he added.