Agencies | New Delhi:
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) will be implemented in all 21 states and Union Territories governed by the BJP-led NDA before the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, while announcing a month-long nationwide campaign to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 25 years in public service.
Addressing the media in Mumbai, Shah expressed confidence that the UCC would be rolled out across all NDA-ruled jurisdictions before the next general elections.
“We introduced the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in several states. I am confident that we will implement the UCC in all 21 states governed by the BJP-led NDA before 2029,” Shah said.
The NDA is currently in power in 19 states and two Union Territories, according to the government. Uttarakhand, Gujarat and Assam have already implemented the UCC, while Madhya Pradesh has constituted a committee to prepare a draft.
Shah also announced the ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’, a nationwide 30-day campaign to be conducted from September 17 to October 17 by NDA constituents and voluntary organisations.
He said the campaign would be organised across all states and Union Territories and at every administrative level.
“Very few leaders in this country have achieved the distinction of completing 25 years of continuous public service, having served both as a state Chief Minister and as the Prime Minister of the nation,” Shah said.
The campaign is intended to commemorate Modi’s completion of 25 years in public service, spanning his tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat and later as Prime Minister.
The Home Minister highlighted what he described as major achievements of the BJP-led government, including the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the abrogation of Article 370 and the repeal of the Triple Talaq law.
He also claimed that Naxalism had been eradicated from vulnerable areas.
Comparing the political landscape before and after 2014, Shah accused previous governments of allowing corruption, caste-based politics and dynastic politics to dominate national affairs.
“Prior to 2014, our national politics was plagued by corruption, casteism, and dynastic politics. In the political era spanning 2014 to 2026, the nation has moved beyond these issues toward a politics of performance,” he said.
Shah also described the government’s foreign and defence policies as being guided by the principle of “India First.”
On illegal immigration, Shah reiterated the government’s tough position, saying authorities would identify illegal infiltrators and take steps to deport them.
“I will identify every illegal infiltrator one by one and ensure they are deported from this country,” he said.
Asked about student protests at Jantar Mantar, Shah said democratic dissent and the expression of differing views were legitimate.
“We are in a democracy. People hold different views on various issues, and it is essential that those views are expressed,” he said.
Taking a swipe at the Congress, Shah added that the BJP-led government believed in dialogue rather than imposing restrictions.
“The Bharatiya Janata Party is in power, but we cannot govern by imposing an Emergency. That is the Congress culture, not ours. We believe in dialogue and discussion,” he said.
