Haridwar: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami hailed the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state as a historic step toward realizing the vision of B.R. Ambedkar for India. Speaking at a function on Monday to mark the 135th birth anniversary of the architect of the Constitution, Dhami emphasized that Ambedkar envisioned a society where all citizens, irrespective of their caste, religion, or community, would be subject to equal and uniform laws.
Dhami explained that Ambedkar believed social inequalities and divisions could only be eradicated with a uniform legal system. He further highlighted that personal laws for different communities had historically been a source of discrimination. Uttarakhand, he noted, had become the first state in India to implement the UCC, marking a significant move towards the creation of an India in line with Ambedkar’s ideals.
The Chief Minister also pointed out that Ambedkar viewed the UCC not merely as a legal obligation but as a moral and social necessity. He praised the UCC for its potential to protect Muslim women from harmful practices such as Halala, Iddat, child marriage, polygamy, and triple talaq, asserting that the law would empower women across the state. Dhami described the UCC as ushering in a new era of women’s empowerment in Uttarakhand.
During his address, Dhami criticized Congress governments for their failure to honor Ambedkar’s legacy, accusing them of neglecting his struggles for the downtrodden and deprived sections of society. He pointed out that the BJP-supported V.P. Singh government posthumously awarded Ambedkar the Bharat Ratna in 1990 and that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had fulfilled the long-standing demand to declare Ambedkar’s birth anniversary a national holiday.
Dhami also recalled the dark period of the Emergency, imposed by the Congress, which he argued was an affront to democratic principles. In a remark targeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Dhami sarcastically suggested that Gandhi carrying a copy of the Constitution only evoked "laughter and pity."
Concluding his address, Dhami reaffirmed that every citizen of India owed a debt of gratitude to Ambedkar for his pivotal role in framing the country’s Constitution, which continues to guide the nation’s democratic values.
With PTI inputs