RSS outfit Banvasi Kalyan Ashram wants UCC without hampering Tribal customs and culture.

Amidst this time of disagreement within the Sangh Parivar over the Uniform Civil Code, concern came to the fore over the cultural and conventional issues of the Janjati (Tribal) people. 

According to Sangh’s Janjati-Banvasi (tribal) organization ‘Banvasi Kalyan Ashram’, if the Janjati community is included in the uniform civil code, the resentment of the concerned people may have a negative impact on the assembly polls and Lok Sabha elections in five states.

Bisakha Hembrom | HENB | New Delhi | July 5, 2023:: A section of the opposition has alleged that the Narendra Modi government is trying to polarize the Hindu vote by passing the Uniform Civil Code Bill ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. But the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) fears that if it is to become a law, it will have to face a major conflict in the people’s societies in the tribal segments.

According to the RSS-affiliated Janjati organization ‘Banvasi Kalyan Ashram’, if the Janjati community is included in the uniform civil code, it may have a negative impact on the assembly polls and Lok Sabha elections in five states. ‘Banvasi Kalyan Ashram’ is going to give their opinion statement in this regard in the 22nd Law Commission soon.

Significantly, this opinion of the Sangh was reflected in the meeting of the Standing Committee of the Parliamentary Law Ministry on Monday. BJP MP Sushil Modi, the chairman of the committee, proposed to keep Janjati Samaj out of the Uniform Civil Code. Earlier, BJP’s ally ruling parties in three northeastern states, Nagaland’s NDPP, Meghalaya’s NPP and Mizoram’s MNF had strongly criticized the Uniform Civil Code.

As a result, the Sangh may also be seen opposing the Uniform Civil Code in the Law Commission to some extent in the near future.  All India Muslim Personal Law Board has already opposed the UCC virtually like the tune of Sangh on their own grounds. Incidentally, on June 14, the Centre-appointed 22nd Law Commission sought the views/suggestions of various religious organizations and people on the introduction of the Uniform Civil Code. According to Law Commission sources, about 10 lakh individuals and organizations have responded on this matter till last week.

As soon as the Law Commission began seeking public opinion on the Uniform Civil Code Act last month, speculation began that the Center was moving the legislation to polarize the Hindu vote ahead of the Lok Sabha. In the meantime, Prime Minister Modi spoke about the issue from the platform of the party program in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh on June 27. He said, “If a family has different laws for each member, then can that family be run?”

Delhi BJP leader Kapil Mishra claimed last week that a uniform civil bill is going to come up in Parliament in the upcoming monsoon session. On Friday, Kapil tweeted, “On 5th August special status of Kashmir was revoked. The foundation stone of the Ram Temple was laid on August 5. And on August 5, uniform civil rules are going to come.”

A Delhi-based key person of FTS (Friends of Tribal Society) which is a sister concern of Banabasi Kalyan Ashram told HENB, “ We are not against Uniform Civil Code. But, we should protect Tribal culture from any scourge of UCC if it goes detrimental. The beauty of cultural and conventional  issues of Janjati people must be protected at any cost.”

But, FTS Karyakarta (activist) who refrained to disclose his identity added, “We have no issues over gender discrimination age of marriage, the legal process of divorce, etc.; but, many  of prevailing customs in tribal society are unique and those should not be disturbed.”