Fadnavis defends Maharashtra's UCC draft as a constitutional duty, hits back at Owaisi and Rahul Gandhi

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday defended his government's decision to draft a Uniform Civil Code (UCC), saying the Constitution itself asks states to work towards implementing it.

Replying to AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Fadnavis said the roots of the UCC lie in the Directive Principles of State Policy. He also alleged that the Opposition was trying to create street agitations like those in neighbouring countries.

Fadnavis said, "The Constitution of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar gave us fundamental rights and also included the Directive Principles. One of these directives says every state should bring in a Uniform Civil Code. Who wrote this? The Constitution of India. This is a constitutional responsibility."

The Chief Minister said that, unlike fundamental rights, the Directive Principles cannot be enforced through the courts, because implementing them takes time and also requires consensus among people.

On Owaisi, he said, "If Owaisi had read the Constitution even a little, he would not say that we are going to take this outside the framework of the Constitution or that we consider ourselves bigger than the Constitution. The Constitution itself has directed us to do this."

Fadnavis also rejected Rahul Gandhi's allegations that the BJP is weakening democratic institutions and is afraid of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. He accused the Opposition of deliberately creating distrust of constitutional institutions.

According to the Chief Minister, the Opposition is following a strategy of questioning and discrediting institutions such as the Supreme Court, the Election Commission, Parliament, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), so as to promote conspiracy narratives and break public trust in them.

He said, "The ultimate aim is to create a situation in which people begin to believe that institutions created by the Constitution cannot deliver justice to them or protect them."

Fadnavis, a BJP leader, alleged that the Opposition wants to bring in a political system like those of Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. He said, "We believe decisions should be taken in Parliament. But if they have decided not to debate there and to fight on the streets, we too are ready to take to the streets and expose them." He added that these agitations would have no effect.

On the Maharashtra Special Public Security Act, brought in to curb urban Naxalism, Fadnavis said the law was recent and its implementation was at an early stage. In his words, "The law has just come into force. Work under it has only just begun. Nine states had made such laws before Maharashtra and have benefited from them."

On the Disha Salian case, the Chief Minister said the Mumbai Police Special Investigation Team (SIT) submitted its report after examining the available evidence and found nothing suspicious. Fadnavis said, "The investigation began very late. So the police can ultimately act only on the evidence they have. Mumbai Police gave the SIT report on the basis of their findings. The court saw some gaps, so it has asked the CBI to investigate as well."

Asked whether it was easier to govern with two parties in the previous government or with three in the present Mahayuti government, Fadnavis said political challenges are part of governance. He added that working with two chief ministers had given him considerable experience.