Dehradun: Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi amid a push to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state. Though Mr Dhami denied having any discussion with Mr Modi on the issue, he said that Uttarakhand will implement the common civil code "soon, but not in haste". And that the Prime Minister's idea is to implement it in the country.
State government officials have informed this newspaper that the Dhami government will soon begin the formalities for the implementation of the newly drafted Uttarakhand UCC by the expert panel appointed in 2022. According to these officials, the PM's nod was awaited after the draft was readied and announced by the expert panel chairperson (Retd.) Justice Ranjana Prasad Desai on June 30.
According to sources, in the meeting with the PM on Tuesday, the Uttarakhand CM briefed him on the UCC draft and assured him to begin legal formalities for its implementation no sooner than the panel submits the draft to the government.
After the meeting with the PM, Mr Dhami said, "We will begin its enforcement as soon as the complete draft is presented to the government. For now, we are not aware of the full content of the draft. However, implementation will not happen in haste to prevent anything untoward."
When asked whether the UCC was also discussed in the meeting, Mr Dhami said the PM is already aware of all the details. "He knows all about the provisions of UCC. It is his thought that UCC should be implemented in the country," Mr Dhami said.
He said the state government has not received a complete draft of the report on the code yet.
Talking about the exemption for tribal groups and if select customs and practices of tribal communities will be kept out of the UCC ambit, Mr Dhami stated, "The special committee had visited tribal villages and incorporated their views after meeting them and their leaders. A decision on this can be taken only after going through the draft."
The Uttarakhand CM said he discussed various infrastructure and developmental projects in the hill state with the PM.
Mr Dhami said that he also extended an invitation to the PM to be the chief guest at the forthcoming Global Investors Conference in the second week of December. Adding that the PM accepted the invitation to inaugurate the conference in Dehradun.
During the meeting, Mr Dhami requested the PM transfer 457 acres of unused land from Haridwar-based Central government PSU BHEL to the state government. He stated that the land will be used for industrial development and urbanisation in Haridwar.
The chief minister also apprised the PM of the progress being made by the state in the fields of start-ups, ease of doing business and boosting investments.
Mr Dhami also sought the Centre's approval for the Kiccha-Khatima railway station project and requested the Prime Minister that its estimated total cost of ₹1,546 crores be borne by the Centre.
He also sought clearance of a proposal to shift Dehradun's main railway station to Harrawala station, which has been renovated.
Mr Dhami had earlier met Union home minister Amit Shah on Monday night.
