Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday, May 24, assured tribals that the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) will not infringe upon their rights.
While addressing the “Janjati Sanskritik Samagam” (Tribal Cultural Conclave), Shah stated that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government is committed to protecting forests that are like fortresses guarding tribals’ culture and livelihood, IANS reported.
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He called the NDA government at Centre as a tribal-friendly dispensation and even urged people to guard against individuals spreading lies over the UCC to create a divide among people.
“Two BJP-ruled states, Uttarakhand and Gujarat, have introduced UCC and both of them have kept tribals out of its purview,” Shah said.
Shah said tribals should not be afraid of UCC, besides confirming that no tradition of tribal communities will be restricted under the Code.
The Union Home Minister even took a stand against illegal conversions in tribal areas and clearly stated that it was not allowed under the Constitution.
“The tribals of the country present the largest sustainable model in the world, and the BJP is a party which believes in the welfare of the community… The tribals worship nature, just as it is done in Sanatan Dharma,” Shah said.
He even called out participants for a united march towards ‘Viksit Bharat@2047’.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has increased funds for tribal welfare to ₹1.50 lakh crore. In Congress days, the budget was ₹28,000 crore,” he said.