Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, has issued a direct challenge to the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Union government, urging them to present the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) bill in Parliament if they possess the necessary legislative numbers. Abdullah asserted that decisions regarding such a significant national policy should be made at the parliamentary level, not by individual states, and questioned the rationale behind pursuing its implementation piecemeal across different states.
Speaking to reporters, Abdullah stated, “If you have the numbers, then bring it to Parliament. Why are you doing this in different states?” He further highlighted the apparent internal divisions within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) regarding the UCC, referencing reports of the Janata Dal (United), a constituent party, opposing its implementation in Bihar. This internal dissent, according to Abdullah, raises serious questions about the feasibility of a nationwide rollout.
Information reaching Tahir Rihat suggests that Abdullah’s stance is rooted in the principle of national consensus for matters of broad societal impact. He argued that a law cannot be genuinely termed “universal” if its application is confined only to states governed by the BJP. “The whole country is not governed by the BJP. There are several states and Union Territories where the BJP is not in power. If it is applied only in BJP-ruled states, then it is not universal. A matter of this nature should not be decided by individual states. It has to be decided by the country as a whole,” he emphasized.
Abdullah maintained that Parliament is the ultimate representative body of the nation’s collective will and reiterated his call for the central government to submit the UCC proposal for legislative debate and decision. He drew parallels with other policy discussions, such as ‘One Nation, One Election’ and reservation-related proposals, which have also been subjects of discussion but have not yet been brought before Parliament. The current approach of taking the UCC issue to the states, he suggested, bypasses the proper legislative process. “Let the legislation come to Parliament. So far, several measures that have been talked about, including One Nation, One Election and reservation-related proposals, have not been brought before Parliament. Now this issue is also being taken to the states. Bring it to Parliament and let us see whether you can pass it,” he urged.
Shifting focus to security matters, Abdullah welcomed the de-escalation efforts along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). He acknowledged the significant difficulties faced by populations residing near the LoC and LAC, characterizing any measure that reduces military deployments in these sensitive areas as a positive development. He expressed hope for similar improvements in conditions along the Line of Control over time.
Commenting on China‘s commendation of India‘s foreign policy, Abdullah advised against seeking external validation for the nation’s diplomatic endeavors. He questioned the reliance on other countries for endorsements, posing a rhetorical question about the course of action if such external assessments were to turn negative. “Why should we look for certificates from other countries? If tomorrow China says something negative about our foreign policy, what will we do then? We should not attach too much importance to what other countries say about our foreign policy, whether positive or negative,” he remarked.
In a significant diplomatic development, Abdullah described the inclusion of the Pahalgam terror attack in the BRICS declaration as a notable achievement for India’s foreign policy. He underscored the importance of the specific condemnation of the Pahalgam incident, particularly given the presence of Pakistan’s allies within the BRICS forum. “The fact that the Pahalgam attack was specifically condemned is itself a big thing. You know how many allies of Pakistan were present in that room. Therefore, for Pahalgam to be mentioned by name is, in itself, a success of our foreign policy,” he stated, as reported by Tahir Rihat.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.
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