In his 11th successive Independence Day address to the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a renewed push to the BJP’s ideological aim of a Uniform Civil Code, reframing the idea as a “secular civil code” enshrined in the Constitution and a way of ensuring equality before law for all.
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“The Supreme Court has repeatedly discussed a Uniform Civil Code (UCC), in India. A large section of the country believes and its true, that in the civil code, what we have is a communal civil code. The need of the hour is a secular civil code only then will we be free of the discrimination on the basis of religion. It is our duty to fulfil the vision of our Constitution makers,” he said.
The PM was referring to the Directive Principles of State Policy in the Indian Constitution that advocated striving for a UCC, a reference that carried an unsaid criticism of the Opposition, which has been speaking of the Constitution being in danger of being subverted, but at the same time opposes the UCC.
The call for a “secular civil code” at this time is also significant because the BJP, with 240 seats does not have a majority on its own in the Lok Sabha and is dependent on allies like the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Janata Dal (U) which have reservations over this issue.
Besides the UCC, a large part of the customary address by Prime Minister Modi touched on not just the Uniform Civil Code, but also many contemporary issues which packed a strong criticism of the opposition.
For quick probe into crimes against women
Without naming the West Bengal government and the rape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged the issue of women’s safety. “Our mothers, sisters, daughters are being tortured, there is anger among the people, and I can feel it. The country, society and state governments need to take this seriously. There must be quick investigation and conviction of the perpetrators of such crimes, and while media highlights the crimes, it should also highlight the convicted to name and shame them, which will act as a deterrent going ahead,” he said.
‘Attempts to destablise economy’
He also referred to forces of anarchy that wanted to destabilise the country especially economically, again an unnamed reference to the report of Hindenburg research on the Adani group, which BJP spokespersons have termed as an attempt to destabilise Indian markets. “Some people are against our growth, the country needs to beware of such people with negative, destructive mindset, and understand that these could lead to anarchic forces. The world needs to know that our values and history reflects that India’s prosperity leads to the prosperity of the world,” he said.
He re-iterated his commitment to fighting corruption and deplored what he termed the tendency in some quarters to celebrate corruption. Prime Minister Modi added that he was prepared to pay the price of going after corruption and the corrupt.
Concern over safety of Bangladesh Hindus
On Bangladesh, Prime Minister Modi struck a pragmatic note, stating: “As a neighbouring country, I understand the worry regarding what happened in Bangladesh. I hope that the situation becomes normal there very son. The safety of Hindus and minority communities there must be ensured. India always wants our neighbouring countries to walk on the path of peace and harmony. We are committed towards peace and have the best wishes of Bangladesh’s development journey.”
Apart from the advocacy of a “secular civil code”, Prime Minister Modi renewed his pitch for simultaneous polls for Parliament and state assemblies, asking all parties “who understand the spirit of the Constitution” to reflect on the issue. At the same time he said that dynastic politics needed to be countered and said that at least one lakh young people unconnected by family to politics need to enter the field at all levels form Panchayat to the Parliament.
Prime Minister Modi also touched on the controversy surrounding NEET, the entrance exams for medical education, promising that his government would be increasing by 75,000 the seats available for medical education across the country.
Report card
While delivering his longest Independence Day speech in 11 years, (at 98 minutes, it was two minutes longer than his 2016 speech of 96 minutes), Prime Minister Modi also presented a report card of his government in the last 10 years, lauding the pace and intent of reforms undertaken by it, including the new Nyay Sanhitas or criminal and police procedural codes.
“We have brought big reforms on the ground. For the poor, the middle class, deprived sections, for the aspirational youth, we choose the path to bring reforms in their lives,” he said. He urged all levels of government from Panchayat to the Central government to work on improving ease of living at a mission mode.
Prime Minister Modi set the agenda for his government in the fields of Made in India Chip-semiconductor manufacturing, improving designing in India to rival international levels and invoking the “Nalanda Spirit” of excellence in education.
