Srinagar, 07 Oct (KNS) : The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference General Secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar Tuesday welcomed Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s clear position that the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) will not be implemented in Jammu and Kashmir.

In a statement issued, He said that the National Conference has opposed the BJP’s UCC agenda from the very beginning and has consistently advocated the protection of religious freedom, personal laws and the rights of minorities guaranteed under the Constitution of India.

Sagar said that the Uniform Civil Code is not merely a legal issue but a sensitive matter directly linked with the religious and personal laws of different communities in a country as diverse as India in terms of religions, cultures and languages. He said that for Muslims, matters relating to marriage, divorce, inheritance, mehr, family and other personal affairs are connected with the Holy Quran and religious injunctions. Therefore, any form of UCC that disregards or restricts these religious principles could come into conflict with the constitutional and religious rights of Muslims.

He said the Constitution of India guarantees every citizen the freedom to practise their religion and live according to their religious traditions and beliefs.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelIn such circumstances, imposing a single uniform legal framework on all religions and communities would run contrary to the fundamental principles of religious diversity and personal freedom.

Sagar said that altering family matters governed by Muslim Personal Law, which have been followed for centuries, merely in the name of uniformity could not only hurt religious sentiments but also create mistrust and social discord. He said that if the BJP has failed to build broader consensus on the Uniform Civil Code through Parliament, attempts to advance the agenda through states by adopting indirect means would be against democratic principles and the federal spirit of the Constitution.

He said that the National Conference would not support any move that adversely affects the religious, constitutional and democratic rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He said the Omar Abdullah government’s clear position that the Uniform Civil Code would not be implemented in Jammu and Kashmir is commendable and that the government is committed to ensuring respect for the religious rights, personal freedoms and constitutional guarantees of all sections of society.(KNS)