Patna: Differences of opinion have emerged among ruling NDA partners in Bihar over Union home minister Amit Shah’s announcement that the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) would be implemented by 2029 in all BJP-NDA-ruled states.Shah, speaking in Mumbai on Sunday, said the UCC would be implemented across BJP-NDA-ruled states by 2029, prompting cautious reactions from NDA allies in Bihar, particularly JD(U), which has maintained a nuanced position on the issue.JD(U) national spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad said on Monday the party would discuss the matter when a formal proposal comes before it. “Our party’s national working president Sanjay Kumar Jha will meet the Union home minister soon to discuss the issue,” he told this newspaper.RLM chief Upendra Kushwaha also adopted a wait-and-watch approach, saying his party would discuss the proposal and take a decision once it was formally placed before it.JD(U) state chief spokesperson Neeraj Kumar reiterated the party’s earlier position, recalling then Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar had written to the Law Commission stating no community should be hurt and the country belonged to everyone. “Since no UCC draft has come out officially, our party continues to maintain the same stand,” Neeraj said. He added no state other than Uttarakhand had so far implemented it.The JD(U) also distanced itself from party MLA Shyam Razak’s assertion the UCC would not be implemented in Bihar, saying his statement did not represent the party’s official position.LJP(RV) chief Chirag Paswan posted on X, “My party is committed to both equality and diversity. Let the draft be made public, let there be an assessment of the interests of all stakeholders, let there be extensive discussions – thereafter, after review, the party will state its position.”LJP(RV) state president Surendra Vivek said the party would study the proposal point by point. “We are firmly with the NDA government, and the UCC will be considered after the proposal comes,” he told this newspaper.HAM(S), however, welcomed Shah’s statement. Its national president and Bihar minister Santosh Kumar Suman posted on X, “We extend our full support to the UCC. We wholeheartedly welcome and support the resolute commitment expressed by Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the UCC.”Meanwhile, RJD and Congress stepped up their attack on the NDA. RJD spokesperson Ejaz Ahmed alleged the UCC aimed to advance the BJP’s political agenda.Congress spokesperson Asitnath Tiwari criticised the timing of the announcement, saying several states were facing severe floods and people needed immediate assistance. He urged the Centre and state govts to focus on public welfare rather than creating a political clamour over the UCC.
