U’khand BJP leader’s 2nd marriage! Where is Uniform Civil Code?

New Delhi: In Uttarakhand, where a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is effective, a BJP leader, who is also a former MLA, has married a second woman while his first marriage stays intact. The incident has put the state BJP on a spot after the party strongly advocated the UCC, which strictly bans polygamy across communities. Also, the state penalises the act if found guilty.

The Print reported that the action by BJP leader Suresh Rathore- who married his long-time partner without divorcing his wife, invited severe backlash from the ruling party, and it issued the leader a show-cause notice. The party accused him of “improper conduct” and actions that harmed the party’s social and moral image.

The notice also stated that Rathore’s statements and behaviour on social media have repeatedly embarrassed the party.

The Print quoted the notice, “It has been observed for a long time that your undignified behaviour, especially through media and social media platforms, has repeatedly come to notice. Your statements and conduct are damaging the party’s social and moral image. Your activities clearly fall under the ambit of party indiscipline.”

The party demanded Rathore a written explanation within seven days.

It was last week that the former BJP MLA held a press conference and acknowledged his marriage to actress Urmila Sanawar while his marriage with Ravindra Kaur remained intact.

Congress party accused the BJP of selectively applying UCC and shielding its own party leader. The state congress asked if UCC is only for political opponents. It slammed the ruling BJP government, saying that when its MLA openly violated its own legislation, the government stayed silent.