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By:

Abhijit Mulye

21 August 2024 at 11:29:11 am

Govt assures swift UCC implementation

Mumbai: Maharashtra government unequivocally declared its commitment to implementing the Uniform Civil Code across the state, assuring the legislative assembly that a comprehensive legal framework is already in the advanced stages of formulation. Minister of State for Home Yogesh Kadam categorically stated on the floor of the House on Tuesday that the ruling Mahayuti administration is entirely positive about the swift introduction of the Uniform Civil Code to standardize personal laws. To...

Govt assures swift UCC implementation

Mumbai: Maharashtra government unequivocally declared its commitment to implementing the Uniform Civil Code across the state, assuring the legislative assembly that a comprehensive legal framework is already in the advanced stages of formulation. Minister of State for Home Yogesh Kadam categorically stated on the floor of the House on Tuesday that the ruling Mahayuti administration is entirely positive about the swift introduction of the Uniform Civil Code to standardize personal laws. To facilitate this monumental legislative transition, the state government has formally sanctioned the constitution of a dedicated expert committee, which is being spearheaded by a retired High Court judge. This committee has been entrusted with the critical responsibility of meticulously preparing the draft bill for the Uniform Civil Code, which the government intends to enact immediately upon the submission of the final report. Emphasising the overarching objectives of the proposed legislation, Kadam noted that the Uniform Civil Code would universally apply to every citizen irrespective of their religious affiliations and would explicitly incorporate a stringent ban on the controversial practice of polygamy. The minister drew direct parallels with the legislative measures recently adopted by states like Uttarakhand, underscoring that the impending law in Maharashtra would similarly entail severe penal consequences, potentially including imprisonment for up to seven years for violations related to polygamy and illegal divorce practices. He firmly maintained that the government’s approach is fundamentally secular, harboring no animosity toward any specific religion, but is rather driven by the constitutional imperative to extend equal rights, legal protection, and comprehensive justice to women from all communities. This definitive policy assurance from the government was catalysed by a highly volatile calling attention motion initiated by BJP legislator Devyani Farande, which thrust the deeply sensitive issues of triple talaq and polygamy into the center of the assembly’s monsoon session. Farande brought the ongoing plight of Muslim women to the immediate attention of the House, asserting that despite the central government’s strict legislative prohibition, the illegal practice of instant divorce continues to flourish unabated.

Building New Mumbai: Development Dreams vs Destruction Debates

Updated: Oct 22, 2024

New Mumbai

As Maharashtra gears up for an especially critical Assembly election, the battle for Mumbai, a city that accounts for a significant share of the state’s political power and economic clout, is shaping up around a theme of development versus obstruction.


The ruling Mahayuti coalition, composed of the Shiv Sena led by CM Eknath Shinde, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), has positioned itself as the champion of growth and infrastructure. They seek to capitalize on a series of high-profile projects initiated during their tenure, from the long-delayed Mumbai Coastal Road to the Atal Setu bridge.


The argument the Mahayuti will present to the voters is clear: the opposition, particularly Uddhav Thackeray’s faction of Shiv Sena (UBT), stood in the way of progress when the MVA government helmed by Thackeray was in power.


The Mahayuti will likely point to the Dharavi redevelopment project, which aims to transform one of Asia’s largest slums into a modern residential and commercial hub, and the ongoing Mumbai Metro expansion as prime examples of Thackeray’s alleged obstructionism. While the Coastal Road promises to cut down travel time between South Mumbai and the northern suburbs, Thackeray’s criticism of environmental concerns around these projects has led to accusations of stalling key development initiatives.

The Mahayuti will be positioning itself as a forward-looking government, one willing to make tough decisions for the future of the metropolis. The Dharavi project, for instance, is not merely about relocating slum dwellers but represents a vision of urban renewal that could unlock immense real estate value in one of the world’s most crowded cities.


The Mumbai Metro stands as another flashpoint in the development vs. destruction narrative. Uddhav Thackeray, as part of the MVA government, took a public stand against the construction of the Metro Car Shed in Mumbai’s Aarey forest—an urban green lung. While environmentalists praised his decision to halt work on the car shed to protect the forest, the Mahayuti government quickly reversed this after coming to power, shifting construction back to Aarey.


The Shiv Sena (UBT)’s emphasis on environmental protection stands in contrast to the ruling coalition’s aggressive push for urban transit expansion. For the Mahayuti, the Metro is a critical solution to the city’s traffic woes, one that Thackeray hindered during his brief reign.


For the Mahayuti coalition, this election will be an opportunity to showcase tangible achievements and portray the opposition as agents of delay. The Atal Setu, which connects Worli to Bandra, and the Coastal Road Project are symbolic of a city being upgraded to global standards. With Mumbai positioned as India’s financial capital, the coalition will frame its infrastructure push as essential for attracting investment and maintaining the city’s competitiveness on the global stage.


As the polls inch closer, the narrative of ‘development versus destruction’ will intensify. As voters weigh their options, the future of Mumbai’s landscape, both physical and political, will be shaped by this defining debate.

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