CPI(M) in Kerala trying to turn UCC into Hindu-Muslim issue for gain: Congress

Kannur/Kochi: Upset over the overtures by the ruling CPI(M) in Kerala to Congress' key ally IUML in connection with the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), the grand old party on Monday alleged the Left party was trying to turn it into a Hindu versus Muslim issue for gaining political mileage.

A day after CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan reached out to Muslim organisations in the state, including IUML, for discussions on the UCC issue, the Congress claimed that the Left party was "walking the same path" as the BJP which was allegedly trying to create communal unrest and divide the people by pushing for implementation of the UCC.

AICC general secretary K C Venugopal said that his party was in agreement with the 2018 finding of the Law Commission that UCC was "unnecessary and not desirable".

"However, in our state (Kerala), some are trying to turn it into a Hindu versus Muslim issue and the CPI(M) is championing such efforts. They are saying it is a Hindu-Muslim issue. It is not something that would affect only one particular religion, it will affect the entire nation," he said.

Venugopal, also a Rajya Sabha MP, said that Congress was taking at face value the obvious concerns and apprehensions of its ally Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and the Muslim community and the party's stand on UCC would be made clear in the coming Parliamentary session.

Speaking along similar lines, Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the state Assembly V D Satheesan said, "The BJP is trying to turn it into a Hindu-Muslim issue and create communal strife to gain political mileage out of it and the CPI(M) is adopting the same path in Kerala." (PTI)