Maharashtra CM Defends Proposed Uniform Civil Code and Comments on Political Mergers

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday defended his government's plan to create a Uniform Civil Code in the state, pointing out that the Constitution asks states to work toward this goal. Speaking at his home in south Mumbai, he answered critics by stating that the Constitution itself guides states in this direction.

Reactions and Politics

AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi had earlier criticized the proposed code, claiming it aims to force a Hindu civil code on non-Hindu communities. Fadnavis dismissed this criticism, noting that the critic would not have made such claims if he had read the constitutional guidelines properly. Regarding talk of a merger between rival Nationalist Congress Party factions, Fadnavis stated that neither Sharad Pawar nor Sunetra Pawar had spoken to the BJP about any such plans, adding that any union would involve his party.

Law and Order

On the topic of recent gun violence linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi group, the chief minister downplayed the events as mere attempts to frighten the public. He accused the opposition of trying to stir up street protests similar to those seen in nearby nations, while praising the Mumbai Police and confirming that officers have already caught all suspects in the shooting incident involving actor Tiger Shroff. Turning to the death of Disha Salian, Fadnavis explained that an early Special Investigation Team report by Mumbai Police found no suspicious activity, but the Central Bureau of Investigation is now handling the case following court instructions after judges spotted gaps in the initial findings.

Context

A Uniform Civil Code aims to replace personal laws based on religious scriptures with a common set of rules governing all citizens in matters like marriage, divorce, and inheritance. The Directive Principles of State Policy in the Indian Constitution are guidelines meant to be kept in mind by the government when making laws, though they are not directly enforceable by courts.