Implementing UCC not easy like revoking Article 370, will affect all religions: Ghulam Nabi Azad
Srinagar, Jul 8: Former Union minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Saturday cautioned the Centre over implementing a uniform civil code, saying it will affect all religions.
Talking to reporters here, he also said that implementing UCC will not be "easy as it was to revoke Article 370".
"There is no question (of implementing it). It is not easy as it was to revoke Article 370. All religions are involved in it. Not only Muslims, but Christians and Sikhs also, tribals, Jains, Parsis, annoying all these people at once, will not be good for any government," the chairman of the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) said.
"So, I suggest this government to not even think about taking this step," he said.
UCC refers to a common set of laws that are applicable to all citizens of India that is not based on religion and dealing with marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption among other matters.
The DPAP chairman welcomed the announcement of the land-for-landless policy by the Jammu and Kashmir administration, but demanded that land be given only to the poor residents of the Union Territory and not outsiders.
"Land should be given, but there is a condition. We welcome the announcement, but it should (be given) only to the poor residents of Jammu and Kashmir. That is important," he said.
The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister, who formed the DPAP in September last year after ending his more than five-decade-long association with the Congress, also batted for early assembly elections in the Union Territory.
"We have been waiting for the last many years, when the assembly was dissolved in 2018. Since then, we have been waiting for the conduct of the elections. The people of J-K have been waiting for the restoration of the democratic setup in the state. When people will elect their representatives, they will become MLAs and form the government ," Azad said.
"Only elected representatives can work for the people in a democracy. Officers cannot run it for more than six months here or anywhere else in the country. It is important to have elected representatives. We have been continuously demanding this that elections be conducted as soon as possible," he added.
On the developments in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in Maharashtra, Azad said , "I have a high regard for (Sharad) Pawar, I wanted his party be strong. But, because of the internal situation, whatever has happened, we are not happy with that. However, it is their internal matter."
Earlier, AAP leader Nazir Itoo and his supporters joined the DPAP and was welcomed in the party by Azad. Itoo was also associated with the PDP earlier.
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Allen, Raghuvanshi, Green power KKR to 29-run win over GT
Kolkata (PTI): Finn Allen blasted a 35-ball 93, while Angkrish Raghuvanshi hit an unbeaten 44-ball 82 as Kolkata Knight Riders kept their playoff hopes alive with a 29-run win over Gujarat Titans in the IPL match here on Saturday.
Sent in to bat, Allen went on a six-hitting spree, smashing 10 maximums and four boundaries to add 95 off 41 balls with Raghuvanshi (82).
Raghuvanshi then shared another 108 off 53 balls with Cameron Green (52 not out) to power KKR to a challenging 247 for 2.
In reply, GT could manage 218-4, riding on skipper Shubman Gill's 49-ball 85 and a 35-ball 57 from Jos Buttler. Opener Sai Sudarsan was retired hurt but returned to make a 28-ball 53 not out.
Sunil Narine (2/29) claimed two wickets and Saurabh Dubey snapped one for KKR.
For GT, Mohammed Siraj (1/50), Sai Kishore (1/38) were the wicket-takers.
Brief Score:
KKR: 247 for 2 in 20 overs (Finn Allen 93, Angkrish Raghuvanshi 82 not out, Camero Green 52 not out; Mohammed Siraj 1/50).
GT: 218 for 4 in 20 overs (Shubman Gill 85, Sunil Narine 2/29).
