Clarify Modi stand on civil code, Tewari asks state govt

Tuesday, 02/07/2013

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Ludhiana : Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Manish Tewari on Monday asked the ruling Akali Dal to spell out its stand on the Uniform Civil Code vis-a-vis the assertion of BJP’s chairman of the campaign committee Narendra Modi.

He also asked the Akalis to clarify their position about the BJP’s stand seeking abrogation of Article 370, “that ultimately aims at undermining the principles of federalism, which they (the Akalis) claim are so dear to them”.

Addressing a function after inaugurating a tubewell in Ward 35 on Gujjar Mal Road, Tewari said these issues assume importance since the BJP’s campaign committee chairman asserted this in Punjab itself and that too at a function presided over by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal himself.

The Union Minister said the people of the country wanted to know from the Chief Minister his views on Modi’s stand on a Uniform Civil Code and Article 370, “since it aims at undermining the diversity and distinct identities of people”.

“When Modi advocates a Uniform Civil Code, he by implication means abrogation of the Anand Marriage Act and other laws that safeguard the distinct identity of different religious groups,” the Ludhiana MP said, while expressing surprise as to why Badal had not reacted. He said the Akalis, “who have been masquerading as the saviours and protectors of the minorities owe an explanation to the people, particularly the minorities, as what makes them turn a blind eye to such assertions that threaten to undermine the unity in diversity”.

Taking a dig at Modi, Tewari said it was surprising that he was speaking against terror in presence of the “same Akalis who had supported, condoned, endorsed and glorified terrorism whenever it suited their convenience”.

Sikh delegation meets Tewari on DU move

Ludhiana: Already under attack for its opposition to the 1984 Genocide Memorial, the Congress government in Delhi has again attracted criticism for staying mum on University of Delhi’s move to dilute the status of Punjabi language. A galaxy of Sikh academicians and intellectuals on Monday submitted a memorandum to Union Minister Manish Tewari and Punjab Assembly speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal, urging them to take up the issue with the Delhi Chief Minister. Coming under the banner of Punjabi Sahitya Akademi (PSA), the community representatives maintained that the university’s move was not only in violation of the constitutional status granted to languages such as Punjabi, Urdu and Tamil, but will ultimately lead to retrenchment of staff employed to teach these languages in various colleges. “It is not only a dictatorial but also a suppressive move,” Gurbhajan Gill, who heads the PSA, said.