No ideology can override the Constitution : Salman Khurshid takes aim at BJP over UCC remarks

Former External Affairs Minister and senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid on Monday criticised the BJP over Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), stressing that no political ideology can take precedence over the Constitution. Khurshid’s comments came a day after Shah said the UCC would be implemented by 2029 across the 21 states where the BJP or its NDA allies are currently in power. Shah also reiterated the government’s commitment to deporting illegal immigrants from the country.

Responding to Shah’s comments, Khurshid told ANI that the BJP follows an ideology that the Congress does not subscribe to, but maintained that every political position must remain within constitutional boundaries. He said understanding and adhering to the Constitution was essential and that ideology could not be allowed to contradict it.

Khurshid also questioned the legal validity of UCC provisions introduced in BJP-governed states. He said measures implemented in Uttarakhand and proposals for other states should be examined by the High Courts or the Supreme Court, particularly in relation to fundamental rights and citizens’ freedom to follow their religious beliefs.

He said the ultimate outcome would depend on the judiciary’s interpretation of the law. Taking a political swipe at the BJP, Khurshid said party leaders could continue making statements about the UCC while legal challenges remained pending, adding that voters would ultimately decide whether such issues helped the party electorally.

Khurshid pointed out that the UCC introduced in Uttarakhand has already been challenged in court and that the matter is yet to be heard. He said similar legal challenges could arise in other states and suggested that the judiciary would eventually decide whether cases should be handled separately by different High Courts or brought before the Supreme Court for consideration.

The Congress leader also responded to Shah’s comments regarding protests involving Gen Z. Khurshid questioned the government's approach to engaging with young protesters and referred to the Supreme Court’s intervention. He also criticised the use of pellet guns, arguing that such action was not conducive to meaningful dialogue.

Khurshid referred to the emergence of the so-called “Cockroach Party” as a new pressure group and said its eventual political significance would become clearer over time. He alleged that the aspirations of young people were being suppressed and questioned the government's approach to dialogue with both the youth and the opposition.

Congress leader Rashid Alvi also questioned the government's emphasis on the Uniform Civil Code. He asked whether the proposed law would have any impact on major concerns such as unemployment, economic difficulties and the prices of petrol and diesel. Speaking to ANI, Alvi alleged that the UCC issue was being used to target Muslims. He questioned whether introducing the code would improve the country's economic situation, create employment or reduce fuel prices.

Alvi also pointed to the different personal-law systems followed by religious communities in India, including Hindus, Muslims and Christians. He argued that the government's proposal to introduce a common civil framework across 21 states raises questions about how existing personal laws would be addressed. The remarks from the two Congress leaders come as the Uniform Civil Code remains a major political and legal issue. With the Uttarakhand law facing a court challenge and the BJP-led government signalling plans for wider implementation, the debate over its constitutional implications and impact on personal laws is likely to continue.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.