'Uniform Civil Code Our Commitment, There Should be No Fear of NRC': Rajnath Singh to News18

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said it was the government’s commitment that the Uniform Civil Code [UCC] be implemented as he blamed the opposition for trying to mislead the country on the issue.

Speaking to Network18 Group Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi on Friday, Singh said: “I have already said that apart from the manifesto, it is our commitment that we want that Uniform Civil Code should be implemented; this is our belief since long. Many people from the opposition side unnecessarily try to raise this issue on the basis of caste, sect or religion.”

Rubbishing the Opposition’s allegations that UCC would take away the rights of Muslims to live according to Sharia and Hadith, Singh said: “No, no. Everyone should live their life according to their own will. I think nobody should have any objection with the introduction of Uniform Civil Code. And nobody’s faith, belief, or traditions will be harmed by it.”

The minister, when asked about the lack of protests after the rules of the Citizenship Amendment Act were notified, said the move showed distrust among people about the opposition.

“They have a dearth of issues and they do not have such agenda items to assure the public that if their government is formed, they will do this. And it is also a sign of distrust among the public about all those political parties. People do not even trust their words. Now the opposition has tried to create various kinds of misconceptions about this, but I can say with confidence that no one’s citizenship is going to be terminated due to this Citizenship Amendment Act,” he said.

Hitting back at Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who said people will not be able to vote when CAA is introduced, the minister said “people should not be misled in this way in a healthy democracy”. “And I think Mamata ji will also be aware of the fact that this citizenship law means no one’s citizenship is going to be terminated.”

Singh also questioned the resistance to the National Register of Citizens [NRC], asking what was wrong with the move. “Why should anyone have an objection to the register of those who are citizens of India? An attempt is being made to create a misconception that if someone is not of Indian race and is a Muslim and wants to get Indian citizenship under some special circumstances, then he will not get citizenship. I have already said that we are not the people who do politics of caste, creed and religion. If there are such special circumstances and if someone wants to take Indian citizenship, then our government can consider that too. I myself have given citizenship to [Pakistani singer] Adnan Sami even at the time when this Bill was being prepared,” he said.

The minister added: “There should be no fear of NRC. There is unnecessary panic being created among the people. I believe that the opposition should stay away from spreading rumours or misinformation. The opposition should not fool the public. Opposition should have the guts to face the public and not fool them.”