Govt raising uniform civil code keeping UP polls in mind: Cong

With the government asking the Law Commission to examine implementation of a Uniform Civil Code, Congress today accused the Centre of deliberately raking up the issue in view of the 2017 Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, saying it was "cheap politics" of BJP for creating communal polarisation.
Party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said that when election in a major state advances, divisive atmosphere is sought to be created deliberately and it is "cheap politics of BJP" aimed at polarisation.
He said it was a "fact" that whenever elections approach, issues like Uniform Civil Code, Article 370 of the Constitution granting special status to Jammu and Kashmir and building of Ram temple in Ayodhya are raised to create an atmosphere of communal polarisation.

"And after gaining power, they are put on the back burner," he said.
Singhvi said the way the matter has been raised could not be seen as a "genuine" move aimed at arriving at a consensus on the issue of Uniform Civil Code by talking to all concerned.
"If it is political stuntbazi, we condemn," he said.
The Department of Legal Affairs has asked the Law Commission, a recommendatory body, to submit a report on the issue that has always been dear to BJP and the Sangh Parivar.
Law Minister D V Sadananda Gowda had earlier said "wider consultations" would be held with various personal law boards and other stakeholders to evolve a consensus and the process may take some time.