THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan criticized the CPI(M) for misusing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) as a political strategy. He pointed out that the CPI(M) had previously supported the UCC but has now changed their stance. The Governor’s remarks came after the CPI(M) State Secretary MV Govindan announced that he would participate in a strike against the UCC.
The Governor mentioned that the left parties including the CPI(M) used to include the implementation of the UCC in their election manifestos until 1990. He emphasized that the UCC was not just a concept of the BJP; the left parties also supported it. He suggested that one can easily confirm this by examining their past election manifestos. He suggested that the CPI(M)’s opposition to the UCC is aimed at gaining support from the Muslim community during elections.
Furthermore, the Governor shared a personal anecdote about his resignation from the Rajiv Gandhi government in 1989. His resignation was a protest against a law that overturned a Supreme Court decision in the Shah Bano Begum case. He mentioned that the former Kerala Chief Minister and CPI(M) leader E. M. S. Namboodiripad supported him during that time.
The Governor concluded by stating that those who have changed their stance on the UCC should be questioned about its implementation, not a party that consistently maintains its political stance. He emphasized that he has held the same view point on the issue from the past to the present, and it is unfair to question a party that takes a firm and consistent stance.
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