Srinagar, Sep 15: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Tuesday said that an issue such as the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), if intended to apply across the country, should be decided by Parliament rather than by individual states.
Talking to reporters, Abdullah questioned the rationale behind individual states taking decisions on an issue that concerns the entire country, saying such matters should be brought before Parliament.
He also questioned the argument that the country was not being governed by a single political party, saying that measures intended to have nationwide application should accordingly be considered and decided in Parliament.
The Chief Minister’s remarks came in response to questions on the UCC and the approach being adopted by different states on the issue.
Omar Abdullah questioned why such measures were not being brought before Parliament if the government had the required numerical strength to pass them.
On foreign policy, Abdullah was also asked about China and India’s relations. He maintained that India’s foreign policy should remain guided by its own interests and decisions. [KNT]
