Amid a renewed controversy surrounding the Uniform Civil Code that Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly advocated for in a recent public meeting, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has extended its "in-principle support" to UCC. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, AAP leader Sandeep Pathak vouched for the contentious law, however, adding that it should be brought in with a consensus and after extensive consultations with stakeholders.
"The AAP supports UCC in principle. Article 44 (of the Constitution) also supports it," Pathak told PTI. The government should hold extensive consultations on the proposal with all stakeholders, including political parties and non-political entities, the party’s national general secretary (organisation) said, highlighting the need for a consensus.
"We believe that on such issues we should go ahead with consensus. We believe that this (UCC) should be implemented only after there is a consensus among all the stakeholders," Pathak said.
In a pointed pitch for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, PM Modi on Tuesday pushed for a Uniform Civil Code, questioning how a country can function with dual laws that govern personal matters. “You tell me, can a family run if there is one law for one member and another for the others? Can it ever run,” he asked while addressing BJP workers in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh's Bhopal.
Meanwhile, the AAP will contest seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi in the 2024 general elections, Pathak said.