"Uniform Civil Code should be discussed on merits," says Aaditya Thackeray; Eknath Shinde backs "one law for entire country"
Mumbai, June 23
Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray on Tuesday said that the Uniform Civil Code should be discussed based on its merits, while also raising broader questions on uniformity across governance systems.
Thackeray said that uniformity should not be limited to personal laws but also extended to governance and administrative practices.
"The Uniform Civil Code should first discuss it based on its merits. Secondly and most importantly, there must be uniformity across all laws; for instance, if agencies like the ED or CBI are going behind someone, we should examine how many individuals from the ruling party are targeted versus those from the opposition--there needs to be uniformity there as well," he told reporters.
"Right now, if you take a corrupt individual and appoint them as CM or Deputy CM, there should be uniformity too. Thirdly, there should be uniformity when it comes to development funds as well," Thackeray added.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde reiterated his party's support for the Uniform Civil Code, stating that the demand for a common law has long been part of Balasaheb Thackeray's ideology.
"Balasaheb Thackeray's stance from the very beginning has been that there should be one law for the entire country...Our stance regarding the Uniform Civil Code is positive," he said.
The debate comes amid discussions in the Maharashtra Assembly, where the issue of UCC was taken up along with concerns related to women's safety and implementation of the Triple Talaq law following a notice moved by BJP MLA Devyani Pharande under Rule 105.
Maharashtra Minister Yogesh Kadam has said that a one-member committee headed by a retired High Court judge will be constituted to study the implementation of UCC in the state, after which further action will be taken based on its report.
Notably, Uttarakhand became the first state to pass a Uniform Civil Code Bill in February 2024, followed by Gujarat in March 2026, while Assam also passed its UCC Bill in May, aiming to create a common civil framework governing marriage, divorce, succession and live-in relationships irrespective of religion.
Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said that the UCC bill will be introduced in the Assembly's monsoon session next month.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As someone who's lived in the West, I appreciate the idea of one law for all. But India's diversity is its strength. Rushing UCC without proper debate could create more division. Let's talk it through calmly, like adults. 🙏
Finally, someone is linking UCC with wider accountability! If we want uniform civil laws, we also need uniform application of criminal laws. Otherwise it's just selective justice. Thackeray ji, you've raised the right questions! 👏
I support UCC in principle, but Thackeray's point about corrupt politicians becoming CM or Deputy CM is spot on. Why should we trust the same system to implement UCC fairly when it can't even ensure basic honesty in leadership? Yaar, pehle apna ghar toh sahi karo. 😤
Balasaheb Thackeray's vision of one nation one law is commendable. But let's not pretend this is just about personal laws. It's about power, politics, and vote banks. Discuss it on merits, yes, but also discuss the timing and motivation behind it.
UCC is good for women's rights, especially in Muslim personal law where triple talaq was already banned. But other communities have their own concerns. The one-member committee sounds like a token gesture. We need a broader, inclusive discussion involving all stakeholders.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.