Chandigarh, June 29, 2023 (Yes Punjab News)
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today demanded chief minister Bhagwant Mann clarify his stand on the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC), saying the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was trying to deceive Punjabis yet again by speaking in different voices in Delhi and Punjab.
In a statement here, senior SAD leader Dr Daljit Singh Cheema said “it is shocking that AAP is trying to mislead Punjabis on the most sensitive issue of UCC with the Punjab AAP unit calling for implementation of UCC only after taking the views of all religious leaders, States and sections of society into consideration even as the AAP high command had openly declared its support to UCC”.
Terming this move as sheer hypocrisy and political expediency sans any morality, Dr Cheema said “it is clear that the AAP high command has taken a decision to support the implementation of UCC for the entire country without taking its Punjab unit, chief minister or even the Sikh community into confidence. This speaks of how much respect the AAP high command has for its chief minister in Punjab as well as religious entities of Punjab who were not consulted before extending support to the UCC”.
Asserting that there was more to this than meets the eye, Dr Cheema said “it seems AAP has surrendered the rights of minority communities as well as tribal’s to protect its top leaders who are embroiled in various cases. There can be no other explanation for the abject surrender of the party on this issue”.
Dr Cheema also condemned AAP MP Sandeep Pathak for justifying the need of a UCC by claiming that there was a provision for a UCC in Article 44 of the constitution and not taking into account the fact that the UCC was kept in the concurrent list and was part of the Directive Principles of State Policy.
Asking the chief minister to clear the air immediately keeping in view the double speak of AAP on this issue, Dr Cheema said “you have been propagating the Anand Marriage Act but it too will be overridden by UCC. Moreover rights of various religions and tribal communities vis a vis inheritance, marriage and divorce laws will be affected which will cause an upheaval in society which is not in the interest of the country”.
Dr Cheema said the chief minister’s cave-in to the Delhi high command could be seen from the memorandum of understanding (mou) which had given the Delhi government complete freedom to interfere and run governance in Punjab as well as the subservience shown to Haryana’s interests vis a vis Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) canal and now UCC could have dangerous repercussions for the State as well as its people.
“The chief minister must convey the aspirations of Punjabis to the AAP high command and also take a principle stand as per the wishes of Punjabis on UCC instead of playing second fiddle to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal”, Dr Cheema added.
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