However, I was surprised that none of the panelists clearly said that they were generally in favour of a UCC. Only Kapil, though being critical of the Uttrakhand UCC, seemed to support UCC in general ( by referring to former Prime Minister Nehru’s view ), and Vrinda Grover, one of the panelists, said that from the 1970s the women’s movement supported UCC.
Tag: secularism
The BJP will keep winning elections in India
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) faced a setback in the 2024 parliamentary elections, losing its absolute majority with seats dropping from 303 to 240. Despite predictions of decline, the BJP demonstrated resilience by sweeping subsequent state elections in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Delhi, regaining power after 27 years in the latter. This resurgence is attributed to the BJP’s Hindutva ideology, appealing to India’s 80% Hindu population, while opposition parties struggle to offer a compelling alternative, often perceived as chasing Muslim votes. As long as India’s democratic framework persists, the BJP’s electoral dominance seems likely to continue.
Two trains travelling in opposite directions
The other is the train of ground realities–polarisation of Indian society by our crooked and selfish politicians on caste and communal lines, atrocities on minorities, and inciting hatred between communities to secure vote banks for elections, all of which will ensure that India remains poor, backward, and divided.
Justice Markandey Katju on Indian Constitution : Has it failed us or have the people failed the Constitution ?
Justice Markandey Katju critiques the premise of India’s Constitution, arguing that it was transplanted from Western models onto a feudal society without addressing the structural transformation required for modernization. He highlights how, despite initial progress, India’s modern institutions have been feudalized, eroding principles like secularism, liberty, and freedom of speech. He posits that true transformation necessitates a people-led revolution, citing historical examples from England, France, Russia, and China. Katju concludes that the Constitution alone cannot modernize a society, emphasizing the need for sustained societal change.
Justice Katju’s Critique: The Judiciary, Chandrachud, and the Places of Worship Act in Crisis”
The recent controversies surrounding mosque and dargah surveys in India have sparked sharp criticism from Justice Katju, who alleges judicial dishonesty and complicity with the BJP in undermining the Places of Worship Act, 1991. He specifically condemns former CJI Chandrachud’s perceived sleight of hand in allowing such surveys, warning of the socio-political damage these actions may cause. Highlighting the Jama Masjid case in Sambhal, Justice Katju decries the judiciary’s failure to uphold secular principles. He criticizes the Supreme Court’s reluctance to dismiss these cases outright, attributing it to political pressures, and warns of escalating tensions threatening India’s secular fabric.