Sikh Community warn consequences if Uniform Civil Code imposed

New Delhi: Sikh representatives, including members of the Shiromani Akal Dal (SAD), have issued a strong-worded message to the Narendra Modi government, vehemently opposing the implementation of the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and warning of potential consequences if attempts were made to break 'unity and integrity' of the country.

The Sikh leaders, led by Delhi SAD chief Paramjit Singh Sarna and former presidents of the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC) Manjit Singh GK and Harvinder Singh Sarna, announced that the Sikh community would fiercely oppose the imposition of the UCC and would not allow it to be enforced upon Sikhs under any circumstances. They also called upon former chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh, BJP leader Hardeep Puri, and other Sikh leaders to clarify their stance on the UCC.

Highlighting their concerns, Paramjit Singh Sarna emphasized that the UCC was an attempt to assimilate minorities into the Hindu majority and warned of serious repercussions on the country's unity if the government proceeded with its implementation. Echoing his sentiments, Manjit Singh GK stated that the UCC was an effort to "fracture the nation."

The Sikh leaders further criticized the lack of a draft of the proposed UCC and argued that consulting religious organizations and stakeholders without providing clarity on the content was futile. Paramjit Singh Sarna emphasized the need for the government to implement the UCC on Hindus, given the absence of uniformity within Hinduism.

Additionally, the Sikh leaders expressed their opposition to the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) support for the UCC and labelled the party as the "B-team of the BJP." They raised concerns about the ideological implications of the AAP's decision and its potential impact on India's diversity and pluralism.

The Shiromani Akali Dal spokesperson, Daljit Singh Cheema, denounced the AAP's contradictory stance on the UCC, accusing the party of misleading the people of Punjab by claiming to be against the UCC in the state while supporting it in the Rajya Sabha.

Responding to questions about Sikh Personal Law, Paramjit Singh Sarna highlighted the unfulfilled promises made to the Sikh community regarding their personal law and Anand Karaj (Sikh marriage ceremony). He called for the full acceptance of the Anand Marriage Act and stressed that Sikhism is a separate religion with no affiliation to Vedic or Hindu practices.

In a bid to counter the proposed UCC, the Shiromani Akali Dal announced plans to hold large conferences in Delhi and other cities with significant Sikh populations. They also expressed their intention to form a broad-based coalition by engaging with other religious groups, including Muslims, Christians, and tribal communities.

It is worth noting that the SAD, once an ally of the ruling BJP, severed ties over the three farm laws, which have since been repealed. Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mention of the UCC during a party meeting, both the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and Shiromani Akali Dal have strongly opposed the proposal.