Uniform Civil Code cannot be forced upon people, it has to be optional: Surjewala

Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala on Friday said a Uniform Civil Code cannot be forced upon people and it has to be optional. dressing 10th edition of "Chhatra Sans" (students' parliament), he said a Uniform Civil Code has to be voluntary and that will be a great step.

" very fact of Uniform Civil Code is that it cannot be forced upon you, it has to be optional and not compulsory. It has to be voluntary and that will be a great step...," Surjewala said.

While releasing ruling BJP's Lok Sabha polls manifesto last year, its senior leer Rajnath Singh h said saffron party was committed towards implementing a Uniform Civil Code in country. Talking about caste-based violence in country, Surjewala said one should not shy away from reality.

"When I discriminate and violate your rights because you are from scheduled tribes or backward classes, why should you shy away from stating naked truth in public? That is only way to societal reforms and realisation that caste-based violence is an ugly menace that prevails in our society.

"We cannot wish it away. We can only cure it by curation of mindset, by reforms and by punishing those who are perpetrators of such crimes...," he said.

Congress leer said recent incidents of attacks on Dalits showed how poverty and caste continued to govern actions in society. caste and class divide is one of most important social issues of today and students will have to deliberate on it, he ded.