MP UCC Draft Nears Completion After Marathon Stakeholder Meeting in Bhopal

Top Summary

• What happened: The high-level committee for Madhya Pradesh's Uniform Civil Code (UCC) held a marathon seven-hour meeting with various stakeholders in Bhopal.
• Why it matters: The draft UCC is nearing completion and is expected to be introduced in the Vidhan Sabha's upcoming monsoon session, starting July 20.
• What changes: The proposed UCC aims to address critical social issues, including protecting the rights of women abandoned by NRI men and safeguarding the interests of elderlies abandoned by children.
• Who is affected: Citizens across Madhya Pradesh, particularly women, the elderly, and various religious and social groups, will be impacted by the new code.

UCC Committee Holds Marathon Talks

The high-level committee formed for the preparation of a draft Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Madhya Pradesh conducted a marathon seven-hour meeting in Bhopal on Monday. This extensive consultation comes as the two-month deadline for the draft's preparation nears its end.

The meeting, which commenced at 10:30 AM and continued till evening, saw participation from representatives of various government commissions, officials from different departments, religious leaders, and public figures. They submitted their suggestions and proposals to the six-member committee.

The committee is actively working towards introducing the UCC bill during the upcoming monsoon session of the Vidhan Sabha, scheduled to begin on July 20.

Key Proposals and Political Engagement

During the crucial meeting, the ruling BJP delegation presented a nine-point set of suggestions to the committee. These included significant provisions aimed at addressing pressing societal concerns.

• Protecting the rights of women abandoned by NRI men after marriage.
• Safeguarding the interests of elderlies who have been abandoned by their children.

Interestingly, out of the six national political parties invited to share their insights, only representatives from two parties attended: the ruling BJP and the opposition CPI(M). CPI(M) was represented by its state committee member PV Ramachandran and Bhopal district secretary Tej Kumar Tigga.

Opposition's Stance and Future Consultations

Notable opposition parties, including the Congress, BSP, SP, and AAP, did not send their representatives to the meeting. Instead, state Congress president Jitu Patwari posted a video on X, expressing his party's view.

"The state government’s move to implement UCC is a diversionary tactic to shift public attention from the real issues."

The Bhopal meeting serves as a precursor to the panel’s final consultation visit. The committee is set to visit Gwalior, which is the last of Madhya Pradesh's 55 districts, to hold interactive discussions and gather citizens' concerns regarding the UCC draft.

What to Watch Next

The committee's upcoming consultations in Gwalior will mark the culmination of its stakeholder engagements before the final draft submission. Attention will then turn to the Vidhan Sabha's monsoon session, where the highly anticipated UCC bill is expected to be introduced for deliberation.