NEW DELHI: The ruling BJP’s allies are in wait and watch mode over PM Narendra Modi’s Independence Day announcement with respect to the drafting of a secular civil code.
Partners in the National Democratic Alliance dispensation the JD(U), TDP and LJP all have pockets of support among Muslim voters and have openly espoused the cause of the community on more occasions than one.
JD(U) president and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar has always maintained a positive outlook towards minorities and has struck a balance in the Bihar Government, where he rules in alliance with the BJP.
The PM said for 75 years, India had lived with a communal civil code and it was now time to evolve a “secular code”. All three allies are in wait and watch mode, with leaders saying they will await a proper formulation to debate the issue.
The wary NDA allies had recently prevailed on the government which agreed to send the controversial Waqf Amendment Bill to a joint parliamentary committee for further debate. TDP supremo and Andhra CM N Chandrababu Naidu has said in the past that he would not side with any Bill that compromises with the interests of Muslims. “The formulation of the code is key,” most BJP allies said.
Meanwhile, BJP chief JP Nadda on Friday hosted NDA allies at his residence. Sources claimed that secular civil code, one nation one election, Waqf Amendment Bill and the doctors’ demand for a central protection law were discussed during the meeting. Leaders of TDP, JD(U), LJP, RLP, HAM, JDS and Apna Dal, along with Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju and Bhupender Yadav, attended the meeting.