It is a known fact that YSR Congress party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy and his rival -- Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu have been directly supporting the decisions of the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance government at the Centre.
When the Modi government has taken a decision to introduce Uniform Civil Code, every opposition party in the country opposed it, but the YSRC and the TDP have not reacted on it so far, obviously because they do not want to antagonise the Bharatiya Janata Party.
So, on Wednesday, when representatives of various Muslim organisations approached Jagan and Naidu separately and requested their support in opposing the UCC, both the chief minister and opposition leader evaded a categorical assurance that they would vote against the Bill in parliament, when it is introduced.
Both, however, said they would not take any decision that would hurt the sentiments of Muslim minorities. In fact, Jagan virtually snubbed the Muslim leaders asking them why they were unduly worried when the draft bill on the UCC itself was not out.
“Tell me what you would do, if you were to be in my place as the chief minister of the state and give your suggestions,” the chief minister said.
“If these practices are to be streamlined, that should be done through the personal law boards since they have a fair idea and understanding about these practices and they can only avoid misinterpretation. If these are to be changed, Supreme Court, Law Commission and the central government should together discuss the issues with various personal law boards and work on the proposed changes,” he said.
On the other hand, Naidu told a group of Muslims leaders at the TDP office at Mangalagiri that his party would not take any decision that would go against the sentiments of the Muslims.
“We shall make a comprehensive study on the suggestions given by the Muslim groups on the UCC and stand by them. The TDP will always give due respect to the religious beliefs of Muslims and strive for their development,” Naidu said, adding that the TDP would respect the feelings of the Muslims on the UCC and would not go against their wishes.
