‘Christians, tribals likely to be exempted from UCC’: Centre assures Nagaland

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio-led delegation met Union Home Minister Amit Shah with their concerns regarding the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and its repercussions on the religious rights of Christians. Amit Shah assured the delegation that the Union Government is considering an exception for Christians and some pockets of tribal areas from the ambit of the proposed UCC. The assurances come at a time when many senior leaders even within the BJP camp raised concerns about UCC interfering with tribal rights.

The Nagaland delegation apprised Amit Shah of the apprehensions raised in the state and guarantees accorded to them by Article 371(A) of the Constitution of India. “Responding to this, he (Shah) in no uncertain terms assured the delegation that the Centre is actively considering for exemption of Christians and some tribal areas from the purview of the 22nd Law Commission’s exercise," government spokesperson and minister KG Kenye stated in a release on Thursday.

“This came as a great relief as it will avert major upheavals," the statement by the Nagaland government added.

The discussions around the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) were renewed as Prime Minister Narendra Modi vouched for the same during his recent address in Bhopal. The committee formed by the Uttarakhand government for preparing the draft of UCC has also submitted its report to the state government and it is being said that the Centre might also use the same draft.