Rijiju: Tribal Communities to be Exempted from Uniform Civil Code

Kiren Rijiju, the Union Minister of Minority Affairs, confirmed that tribal communities across the Northeast and other regions of India will be exempt from the Uniform Civil Code (UCC). This exemption is designed to protect their cultural practices and grant them the freedom to continue living according to their own customs. Rijiju, addressing a gathering at an event organized by the Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, affiliated with the RSS, articulated the central government’s position on the matter, also commenting on the current social media discourse. He stated, ‘As a central minister, I would like to share the standpoint of our government. Our government and the BJP are deliberating the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) within the country, in alignment with the Constitution. If criminal laws are universally applied, why should civil laws be treated differently?’ He elaborated that certain states have commenced preliminary work. ‘But we’ve unequivocally stated that tribal communities will be excluded. They should have the liberty to live according to their traditions. This (Uniform Civil Code) will not be enforced within Schedule 6, Schedule 5, the Northeast, and other tribal regions of the nation,’ Rijiju added.