Shillong: The National People’s Party (NPP), an ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has opposed the introduction of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in India saying it goes against the actual idea of India.
“The UCC goes against the actual idea of India. India is a diverse nation and diversity is our strength…We don’t know what kind of bill would come out. So without seeing the actual draft it would be difficult to go into further details…” Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma told reporters here on Friday.
Citing the diversity of the country, Sangma, who is also the national president of the NPP, said, “Meghalaya is an example of having a unique cultural identity through its matrilineal society.”
The principal tribes of Meghalaya — Khasis, Jaintias and Garos — follow the matrilineal system, where lineage is passed on through the mother. The youngest daughter (khatduh) of the family inherits the parental properties and other resources. After marriage, men move into the women’s house.
“We are a matrilineal society, for example, and that is what our strength has been and that is what our culture has been and that cannot be changed,” the Chief Minister said.
Noting that the entire northeastern region of the country has its own unique culture and identity and unique ways of our society, Sangma, who belongs to the Garo community, “We would want that to remain and we will not want that to be touched.”
Further, the Chief Minister said that his party would wait and see the “actual language of the bill” if it is introduced, but reiterated that the concept of the UCC doesn’t go with the idea of India, which is a diverse nation with unique culture, language and religion.
