SHILLONG, JULY 5: Spokesperson of the MDA government Ampareen Lyngdoh on Wednesday said that the state government is firm not to allow operation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Meghalaya.
“We as a state as you heard the chief minister’s comment are firm on this matter, we shall not be part of allowing UCC to be operational in the state of Meghalaya,” she told reporters.
Lyngdoh, who is also cabinet minister in-charge law department, said no information has yet reached her office on whether the government has been asked to submit its views on the UCC.
The minister said she can understand with elections happening in certain states, there have been statements made by leaders of the country on the implementation of the UCC. Accordingly, there have been pre-actions based on those observations made in a public forum.
“Whether or not the state of Meghalaya has received anything in writing (on the matter) not to my knowledge and information,” she said.
She also said, “The chief minister has been very candid about it. We have said that we are a state with special privileges. We are protected by the Sixth Schedule. The Sixth Schedule predominantly attends to personal laws to a large extent, matters of land, matters of marriage, matters of inheritance etc.”
Stating that it would be too early for her to comment on the subject matter, Lyngdoh said, “Because of my own research, I have been told that there was a private members’ bill that was submitted to the Rajya Sabha, that bill was not taken up for discussion.”
She also asserted that whether or not it remains the agenda of the NDA, NDA will have to call its partners in states before deciding and taking decisive decisions on matters which affect states.
Further, the minister said that the state will fight to the hilt to ensure that personal laws not touched.
“We have special privileges as per Constitution, we will fight to the hilt to ensure that our personal laws are not touched, we are unique, we are a matrilineal community – all of that has a full presence and understanding in the constitution and I am sure other states in the NE region will also likely have a similar view,” she said while adding that “I feel that UCC is a huge proposal, it does not touch only one aspect, it has lots of aspects, we will cross the bridge and deal with the problem once it comes to us officially but as of now to my information and knowledge it is still not there.”
When asked, Lyngdoh said, “I don’t think we should jump the gun. Why should we seek exemption when the matter is not even official? Let the matter become official first then we shall respond accordingly as we don’t know what they want to put in that UCC. It is a huge policy. Personal law is huge, it encompasses way of life, tradition and practice, encompasses religion and religious beliefs, uniqueness of states. So bringing a particular law only to address a certain lacunae in a practice of a certain community is incorrect in a country like India where there are 32 states – all vibrantly coexisting.”
She said that political parties should understand that “this is your government irrespective of where you sit in the Assembly and if we have to collectively fight for the rights of the state of Meghalaya, we will call everyone on board, we will take suggestions, we will have consultations, we will not allow it. We cannot be taken for granted.”
By Our Reporter
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