“Such inconsistency cannot continue…”: Shatrughan Sinha Calls for UCC and Nationwide Non-Veg Ban

Trinamool Congress MP Shatrughan Sinha has called for the nationwide implementation of a Uniform Civil Code (UCC). He stressed that the UCC should not be seen as a political move for electoral gains, but rather should be approached with a broad-based strategy, involving a multi-party meeting to ensure national consensus. Sinha also expressed his personal view that non-vegetarian food should be banned across the country.

“What happened in Uttarakhand, I would say that as a nation, we must acknowledge it as necessary. A Uniform Civil Code should indeed be implemented and it is something that all citizens of the country would agree upon. However, there are many fine prints and complexities in this matter. It is important to ensure that the concerns of various communities and groups are addressed. It cannot be that suddenly one day, it is imposed in a way that people feel it’s just for votes or elections,” said the Lok Sabha MP.

 

Sinha also expressed his personal views on the issue of beef bans. While he supported such bans in principle, he pointed out the inconsistencies across different regions of the country. “In some places, beef is banned, and I agree with this. Personally, I think non-veg should be banned, but that’s just my opinion. In some regions, beef is banned, while in others it is not. Now, take the Northeast, for example... A friend of mine once said there it's 'yummy,' while in North India it's 'mummy.' This kind of inconsistency cannot continue,” Sinha remarked.

In his view, the matter of a Uniform Civil Code should be addressed through dialogue, with a gathering of all political parties to discuss and reach a consensus. “For the UCC, there needs to be an all-party meeting to gather everyone’s opinion. It should not be viewed from an election perspective,” he added.


Sinha's comments come in the wake of the Uttarakhand government’s announcement on January 27 regarding the implementation of the UCC in the state. This was a key promise made by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during the 2022 state elections. As part of the implementation, the state government has launched an online UCC portal, allowing citizens to apply under nine categories for services related to marriage, divorce, live-in relationships, and the processing of various grievances.