Srinagar, Mar 23: The Army here cancelled a seminar aimed at raising awareness about the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and other legal topics after facing criticism from political parties.
The seminar, ‘Navigating Legal Frontiers: Understanding Indian Penal Code 2023 and the Quest for Uniform Civil Code’ was scheduled for March 26 at the University of Kashmir (KU) auditorium. However, it received backlash from regional political parties including the National Conference (NC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
NC Vice President and former chief minister Omar Abdullah questioned the Army’s involvement in a “divisive” issue like the Uniform Civil Code in a “sensitive” place like Kashmir. He expressed concern about the Army getting involved in political and religious matters, stating that it risks compromising the institution’s apolitical and areligious nature.
“Is it appropriate for the Indian Army to get involved in the divisive issue of the uniform civil code and that too in a sensitive area like Kashmir? There is a reason the Indian Army has remained apolitical and areligious. This ill-advised UCC seminar is a threat to both these basic tenets,” Abdullah said in a post on X.
He said going ahead with the seminar risks opening up the Army to charges of getting involved in the “murky world” of politics coupled with “interfering” in religious matters.
NC chief spokesman Tanvir Sadiq called on the Election Commission of India (ECI) to assess the appropriateness of the Army discussing an issue that features prominently in the BJP’s manifesto while the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) is in effect.
PDP spokesman Najmus Saqib criticised the Army for blurring the lines between politics and security apparatus in Jammu and Kashmir, describing it as a dangerous trend and a manifestation of a larger systemic erosion of the constitution. In response to the backlash, the Army cancelled the seminar, citing the implementation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
Srinagar-based Defence Spokesman Lt Col Manoj Sahu confirmed the cancellation, saying that the legal awareness seminar scheduled for March 26 by Kashmir jurist at KU had been cancelled due to the MCC.
The initial invite for the seminar to media persons was sent by the Srinagar-based PRO Defence on behalf of General Officer Commanding (GOC) HQ 31 Sub Area, Major General P B S Lamba.