GUWAHATI: NDA's northeast allies have balked at Uniform Civil Code (UCC), fearing it will curb freedoms and rights in a region home to over 200 culturally diverse indigenous tribes.
Over 12% of India's tribal population lives in the northeast.The latest from the region to join the anti-UCC chorus is Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma.
Despite being one of BJP's closest allies, Conrad underlined the view of his National People's Party (NPP) that the "UCC goes against the actual idea of India itself"."As a political party, we realise that the entire northeast has unique cultures.
We want these to remain and not be touched," Conrad said.In Nagaland, BJP's other ally, the governing Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), declared on Saturday that "implementing UCC will have a negative impact on the freedom and rights of the minority communities and tribal people of India".Mizoram, which has the highest tribal population in the region at over 94%, had cemented its anti-UCC position in February last when the assembly unanimously adopted an official resolution to oppose the code.
On Friday, Mizoram home minister Lalchamliana said UCC, even if legislated by Parliament, would not be implemented in Mizoram unless the state legislature by a resolution so decides.
In Assam, BJP ally AGP is likely to discuss its stand on Tuesday.05:53Can a country be run on two laws? PM Modis big statement on Uniform Civil Code