BJP has initiated a discussion in the party and the country on the Uniform Civil Code after Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke of the need for UCC. UCC has been part of BJP’s manifesto since the inception of the party. Initiating a discussion, party leaders felt that it would help prepare the country to move towards UCC.

Union law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal held a meeting with Union home minister Amit Shah after the PM’s speech on Tuesday. The law secretary was also present. “Whatever the PM said on UCC is as per the Constitution and is mentioned in Article 44,” Meghwal told ET.

The Uttarakhand government has already formed a committee on UCC, whose report will come out in the next few months. BJP leaders indicated the party would first study the report of the Uttarakhand committee and then watch its implementation in the state. A wider consultation might be needed before taking a final call. However, BJP feels that it’s an idea whose time has come for implementation.

“From the constituent assembly to Parliament, from the streets to civil society and the Supreme Court, the demand and need for UCC was raised on several occasions. However, communal confusion created over it hijacked the constitutional commitment and instead of becoming a part of the Constitution, UCC remained a part of the directive principles,” BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said.

BJP’s Arun Singh said, “UCC has been part of our manifesto. It is an ideological commitment . The motto of ‘Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas’ will further be strengthened with UCC.”