Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has promised that live-in {couples} residing in the state won’t be “unduly harassed” by police and administration for not complying with the brand new Uniform Civil Code invoice that’s going to be enacted.Â
Replying to questions in Rajat Sharma’s ‘Aap Ki Adalat’ present, Dhami stated: “I want to tell people that our government has formed a committee, soon after the passage of UCC Bill, to frame rules so that nobody in the police and administration can misuse its provisions. The rules will ensure that people (live-in couples) are not unduly harassed, do not face excesses or undue pressures and are not subjected to misbehaviour. It is our duty to ensure that the implementation of UCC law should become a model for other states too.”
The nine-member committee headed by a former chief secretary was arrange final week to put together a draft of guidelines relating to procedures, designation of competent stage authorities for simple implementation of the provisions of the UCC legislation. Uttarakhand is the primary state in India to enact the uniform civil code legislation which additionally covers live-in relationships. It requires obligatory registration of live-in {couples}, a document of which might be stored in police station. It additionally prescribes jail time period of up to six months for not producing a certificates of live-in relationship.
Reacting to Congress chief Shashi Tharoor’s comment that the federal government in Uttarakhand was invading the privateness of {couples} “in bedroom” and is appearing like a “nanny state”, the Chief Minister stated: “The provisions in the law have been made not for the benefit of Shashi Tharoor, but for the protection of our sons and daughters, so that their parents can know how their children are living. You have seen reports of people killing their live-in partners, cutting their bodies to pieces and stuffing them in suitcases. Children born of live-in couples have none to take care of and they are deprived of their share in property. …We have incorporated the registration (of live-in couples) provisions for their security.”
Dhami stated: “Our aim is not to harass anybody, but at least children must get security….Today they (live-in couples) are in love, and after 5 to 10 years, when love turns sour(mohabbat gadbadaa jaati hai), they start accusing each other.”
When Rajat Sharma requested why provision has been made for live-in {couples} to inform police once they separate, Pushkar Singh Dhami replied: “No need to go for a fresh registration…They should only inform that they are no longer staying together. This law has not been made to target anybody.”
Dhami stated: “The government, as a guardian, has made this law so that the future of our children is safe. ..If they (live-in couples) give birth to children, we have to think about the future of the kids too. Let them (couples) live together, but their parents should know how and where they are staying… If some unfortunate incidents take place, think of the trauma that the parents go through.”
On ‘Love Jihad’, the Uttarakhand chief minister emphatically stated: “Incidents like Love Jihad are very bad. Such incidents are not at all acceptable in Uttarakhand. There is no place for Love Jihad in Devbhoomi. Our Devbhoomi must remain sacred.”
Asked concerning the objections raised by Muslim clergy that the UCC legislation goes towards Shariah and Islamic injunctions, Dhami stated: “People belonging to different religions are free to follow their customary traditions of marriage. No changes have been made as far as weddings are concerned…Muslims can follow their customary Nikaah, Christians can follow Holy Marriage, Hindus can follow Saat Phere tradition and Sikhs can follow Anand Karaj rites.”
Dhami identified that BJP had promised to convey Uniform Civil Code legislation in its manifesto throughout 2022 Uttarakhand meeting polls. “UCC was our ‘sankalp’ (promise). Modi’s ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshta Bharat’ is our ‘sankalp’. …Uttarakhand is Devbhoomi (Land of Gods), the Ganga and Yamuna flow from Uttarakhand, it is the land of our rishi-munis. Article 44 clearly provides for bringing Uniform Civil Code for all. The people of the state have blessed us for fulfilling this promise.”
Dhami stated, in UCC legislation “we have abolished talaq and polygamy..We do not want women’s rights to be curtailed…I would like to make one point: Ab Desh Me Shariyat Nahin Chalegi (We won’t allow Shariat in the country). Samaan Nagrik Sanhita (UCC) Chalegi…Â Â Those who believe in Constitution will benefit and they will be freed from social evils like Halala.”
The Chief Minister stated he met Muslim girls in Haridwar who praised the UCC legislation and advised him that they’d been free of an enormous curse (abhishaap). “We have got back our self-respect”, the Muslim girls advised me.” Â
Asked by Rajat Sharma whether or not Uttarakhand is being made the laboratory for Hindutva, Dhami replied: “Prayogshala jaisi koi baat nahin (nothing like laboratory), the people of Uttarakhand have given us the mandate. Where will you have Hindutva, if not in Uttarakhand? (Hindutva Agar Uttarakhand mein nahin Hoga, Toh Aur Kahaan Hoga?”
On the latest communal violence in Haldwani, the Chief Minister stated, “authorities land like PWD land, irrigation division land, income land and forest land have been encroached upon and ‘mazaars’ have been constructed. These have been unlawful encroachments. We dug out a number of mazaars and didn’t discover any skeletal stays. How can anyone justify encroachments?…This is ‘Land Jihad’…Â Â
Dhami stated: “We will not allow any change to the ‘mool swaroop’ (original features) of our Devbhoomi….If mosque has been built on encroached land, it will be considered as encroachment, and will be removed.” Â
Dhami additionally stated, “We will not allow change in demography of Devbhoomi at any cost”, he stated.
ALSO READ: No place for Love Jihad in ‘Devbhoomi’ Uttarakhand, says CM Pushkar Singh Dhami in ‘Aap Ki Adalat’
