India should introduce a “secular civil code” that is free from “discrimination on the basis of religion,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said in a speech marking the country’s Independence Day on Thursday.
During a lengthy address, Modi stressed that a unified civil code is a “need of the hour.” “Only then would we be free of the discrimination on the basis of religion,” the prime minister argued, speaking from the ramparts of the 17th-century Red Fort site in the capital.
The Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been pressing for uniform laws for all citizens irrespective of religion and sex since 1989. The proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC), which has been the subject of heated political and legal debate, proposes a common set of laws for all citizens, regardless of their religion, covering matters such as marriage, divorce, and inheritance.
Historically, major religious communities in India, including Hindus, Muslims, Christians, and Sikhs, adhere to their respective personal laws, often rooted in religious scriptures and traditions. Several BJP-led states have taken steps to adopt the UCC, with the northern state of Uttarakhand being the first to do so earlier this year.
The uniform code has been criticized by opposition parties, who argue it could discriminate against religious and tribal minorities in such a culturally and religiously diverse country. Commenting on Modi’s latest remarks on Thursday, Jairam Ramesh, the Congress Party’s communications chief, wrote: “Most countries are moving towards recognition of differences and the mere existence of difference does not imply discrimination.”
Modi also spoke out on Thursday against crimes against women and the need to investigate them thoroughly. “Those involved in demonic acts must face strict punishment at the earliest, this is necessary to create faith in society,” he insisted. His remarks came in the wake of nationwide protests by doctors and medical students, after a trainee doctor was brutally raped and murdered in eastern India’s West Bengal state.
The prime minster also highlighted the role of women in India’s progress. Increased participation of women in the workforce is seen as key to India maintaining its position as the fastest-growing large economy in the world. By 2030, India is forecast to generate $10 trillion in annual revenue, which would take it from fifth position to third among the world’s largest economies.
To make the leap to developed-country status by 2047, reforms are necessary across numerous sectors, Modi added. He emphasized the government’s push for changes in the manufacturing sector as essential for creating jobs to address India’s growing workforce and unemployment challenges. He also underscored the impact of production-linked incentive schemes and foreign direct investment (FDI) reforms, positioning India on a path to becoming a global manufacturing hub.