Work underway on UCC, One Nation, One Election: PM Modi

PTI

New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the “mission is still ongoing” for implementing the BJP’s two key agendas, the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and ‘One Nation, One Election’, with serious discussions underway and positive progress made.

Virtually addressing an event marking the BJP’s 47th Foundation Day, Modi also said it was the saffron party that first raised the issue of women’s reservation in 1994.

He added that the current BJP-led central government is fully committed to ensuring that the Women’s Reservation Act – which would provide 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies – is implemented in the 2029 general elections.

Targeting the Congress, he said BJP workers endured many hardships – such as the Emergency and oppression – under the grand old party’s rule. Many BJP workers even sacrificed their lives, he said, citing states such as West Bengal and Kerala “where violence has been turned into a political
culture”.

“Our mission is still ongoing. On Uniform Civil Code, ‘One Nation, One Election’ and other issues, serious discussions are taking place in the country, and we have achieved tremendous progress on those fronts,” Modi said.

He said the BJP aims to make the country developed and self-reliant, and will continue to march in that direction.

Under the ‘One Nation, One Election’ system, the Modi government proposes to conduct simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. The UCC seeks to create the same set of laws for everyone across the country, irrespective of religion, especially with regard to marriage and adoption.

Modi said the BJP is sincerely striving to face every challenge.

The Prime Minister said the BJP had first proposed women’s reservation in 1994 in Vadodara.

“There are countless works that were the result of the BJP’s honest efforts, such as the repeal of hundreds of black laws from the British era, the construction of a new Parliament building, 10 per cent reservation for the poor in the general category, triple talaq ban, the Citizenship Amendment Act, the construction of the Ayodhya Ram temple,” he said.

“We had also decided that we would encourage women in our party organisation as far as possible. When we came to power, we fulfilled that promise. Now we are fully dedicated to ensuring that the Nari Vandan Adhiniyam (Women’s Reservation Act) is implemented in the 2029 general elections,” he said.

Referring to the ongoing West Asia conflict, Modi said the BJP believes in the idea of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (the world is one family) even in times of war.

He said there was a time when India took pride in maintaining equal distance from every country, but now it is moving ahead by keeping close relations with each country.

Highlighting that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has completed 25 years of existence, Modi said it is the only coalition that has been working in the country’s interest and for public welfare.

“The BJP has set an example in coalition politics. The consistent expansion of the NDA is proof that it is an all-inclusive coalition. It works by prioritising regional aspirations,” he said.

Modi said people have seen dynastic politics, which is still prevalent in some parts of the country, and the Left governance model, but the BJP’s governance model is unique.

“Under our governance model, policies and governments are stable,” he said.

Modi said the BJP has its own agenda and aims, and besides handling the current crisis, the party-led government is preparing the country for the future.

“Works are ongoing on issues such as the demographic change, infiltration, corruption, dynastic politics, and freeing people from a colonial mindset. The BJP has to make the country free from all these challenges. This responsibility can be fulfilled only by the BJP,” he said.