'Exposes Kejriwal's real face': SAD slams AAP for supporting Uniform Civil Code

Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party has sided with the BJP on implementing a Uniform Civil Code in the country though the party wants the government to have a broad consultation to arrive at a consensus before making a move.

New Delhi:A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a strong pitch for a Uniform Civil Code in the country, the Aam Aadmi Party Wednesday said it supported its implementation in principle but a consensus should be built around it.

"We support Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in principle as Article 44 also says there should be UCC in the country. Therefore, there should be broad consultation with all religions, political parties and organizations and a consensus should be built," AAP leader Sandeep Pathak told news agency ANI.

He said the government should avoid taking an authoritarian stance on its implementation. "Some matters are very vital and unavoidable in future, and sooner or later they need to be taken care of. But trying to enforce it in an authoritarian way is not right. There should be wider consultation on it and a consensus should be built around it," he said adding, "Without consensus, you cannot implement anything of this sort as it will leave a huge number of people disenchanted".

Exposes 'real face' of Kejriwal, says Shiromani Akali Dal

Shortly after AAP supported UCC, the Shiromani Akali Dal slammed Delhi Chief Minister and party chief Arvind Kejriwal. "The statement of AAP leader Sandeep Pathak on UCC has exposed the real face of Arvind Kejriwal. SAD is of the firm view that implementation of UCC is not in the interests of the minorities in the country and Union Govt should shelve the idea of implementing it. The 21st Law Commission has already opined in its consultation report that UCC is neither desirable nor feasible," Shiromani Akali Dal leader Daljit Singh Cheema tweeted.

On Tuesday, PM Narendra Modi highlighted the need for a UCC in India, stating that the country cannot function with "two laws" while the Constitution guarantees equality for all. Interestingly, while AAP has backed the BJP on the matter, other major opposition parties called it "vote bank" politics. All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi asked the PM whether the government was considering 'stripping the country of its pluralism and diversity?'

Meanwhile, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said the PM was "distracting" people from other issues. "He (PM) should first answer about poverty, price rise and unemployment in the country. He never speaks on Manipur issue, the whole state is burning. He is just distracting people from all these issues," he said.