If tribals are adamant on Uniform Civil Code, then understand how BJP can get stuck in difficulties?

<पी शैली="पाठ-संरेखण: औचित्य सिद्ध करें;">PM on Uniform Civil Code Narendra Modi After lobbying, it is believed that the central government can implement it soon. The Law Commission recently sought public opinion on the Civil Code. So far 8.5 lakh people from across the country have shared their views on this.

Uniform Civil Code has been the core issue of BJP and the party has been raising it since its inception. Experts believe that BJP, involved in Mandal politics, wants to further strengthen brand Hindutva by implementing UCC before 2024, so that the election becomes 80 (Hindu) versus 20 (Muslim).

However, the opposition of the tribals and the people of the North-East has created difficulties for the BJP’s slogan of one country-one legislation. 30 tribal organizations of Jharkhand have issued a statement saying that they will ask the Law Commission to withdraw it.

Tribal leaders say that if the Uniform Civil Code is implemented, it will end their customary traditions. Along with this, Chhotanagpur Tenancy Act and Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act related to land will also be affected.

(Photo-PTI)

The big leaders of BJP have kept silence on the opposition of tribal organizations for the time being. Political experts say that if the tribal society opposes it, then BJP may suffer more political loss than profit.

Why are tribals against the civil code?

1. Customary traditions like marriage, child adoption, dowry etc. will be affected. The Hindu Marriage Act does not apply to tribal society.

2. Women do not have equal property rights in tribal society. With its implementation, it will end completely.

3. Tribals have got many rights under the PESA Act at the village level, which may end with the implementation of the Civil Code.

4. Tribals have got special rights under CNT and SPT Act to keep water, forest and land safe.

How strong are the tribals politically?
There are more than 10 crore tribals in India, for whom 47 seats in the Lok Sabha have been reserved. 6 in Madhya Pradesh, 5-5 in Odisha-Jharkhand, 4-4 in Chhattisgarh-Gujarat and Maharashtra, 3 in Rajasthan, 2-2 in Karnataka-Andhra and Meghalaya, while one Lok Sabha seat in Tripura is reserved for tribals.

This is about 9 percent of the total seats in the Lok Sabha, which is also very important in terms of coalition politics. Apart from the reserved seats, the equation of 3 seats in Madhya Pradesh, 2 in Odisha and 5 in Jharkhand is decided by tribals only.

Also, in about 15 Lok Sabha seats, the population of the tribal community is around 10-20 percent, which plays an important role in victory and defeat. Overall, the calculation of about 70 seats in the Lok Sabha is set by tribals only.

In 2019, BJP had won about 28 out of 47 seats reserved for tribals. In Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Tripura, the BJP won all the seats reserved for tribals.

In the 2014 elections also, BJP had won 26 seats. The party did a clean sweep in the tribal reserved seats in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.

Tribal voters also effective in assembly elections
Tribal voters also play a decisive role in the assembly elections of 10 states of the country, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Telangana. Elections are to be held in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Telangana after 5 months.

Madhya Pradesh has 21 percent tribals, for whom 47 out of 230 seats are reserved. Apart from this, tribals are also effective in 25-30 seats. In the last election between BJP and Congress in Madhya Pradesh, the difference of seats was very less. In such a situation, the tribal reserve seat is very important for both the parties this time.

Similarly, the number of tribals in Rajasthan is around 14 percent. Here 25 out of 200 seats are reserved for tribals. These 25 seats are very important in Rajasthan, which has a custom of changing power. Tribals constitute 34 percent of Chhattisgarh’s population.

Here 34 out of 90 seats are reserved for tribals. Here too there is a direct contest between Congress and BJP. The number of seats reserved for tribals in Telangana may be small, but it is significant in the triangular contest between the BJP-BRS and the Congress.

Can the opposition of tribals cause political damage?

Tribal leader Lakshmi Narayan Munda says- The issue of migration among tribals is the biggest and in 2014, BJP had talked about ending it, but leaving the basic issue, it is talking about civil code. We have some special laws to save water, forest and land. What will you do if that too is snatched away?

Munda further says – the intention of the government is not right and it is being implemented under a special agenda. On July 5, the tribal communities of Jharkhand will sit on a dharna in front of the Raj Bhavan.

Paramjeet, a social activist working for the tribals of Madhya Pradesh, says, ‘Slowly this issue is reaching among the tribals and people are protesting against it. Along with tradition, the matter of land is most important.

According to Paramjit, the tribals fear that the Chhota Nagpur Tenancy Act and the Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act can be abolished through a Uniform Civil Code. According to both these laws, non-tribals cannot buy the land of tribals.

Durga Didi of Jhabua, who works for the tribals, says- Tribals are more sensitive about the land and on the issue of civil code, a negative narrative against the government is created within them. If the government is not able to end it, then damage is possible.

Paramjeet cites the example of Jharkhand, where the Raghubar government lost the elections because of its efforts to amend the CNT Act.

Protests intensify in the Northeast, reason – all laws of the Parliament will have to be obeyed
Opposition to the Uniform Civil Code has also started in the Northeast. Leaders of the Northeast say that the Civil Code will pose a threat to the societies. As per Articles 371(A) and 371(G) of the Constitution, the tribes of the northeastern states are guaranteed special provisions which prevent the Parliament from enacting any law.

Now know what is Uniform Civil Code, what will change after its implementation?
In matters of marriage, divorce, succession and adoption, different communities in India have different laws based on their religion, faith and belief. The UCC would effectively be meant to streamline laws relating to marriage, divorce, adoption, succession, inheritance and so on.

That is, if the Uniform Civil Code is implemented, then marriage and property distribution will make the most difference.

At present, in matters like the Indian Contract Act, 1872, Code of Civil Procedure, Transfer of Property Act, 1882, Partnership Act, 1932, Evidence Act, 1872, uniform rules apply to all citizens, but different laws apply to all in religious matters. are applicable and there is a lot of variety in them.

Goa is the only state in the country where uniform civil law is applicable.