After backlash from Kashmir’s political events, Military cancels seminar on controversial Uniform Civil Code

Dealing with backlash from political events in Jammu and Kashmir, the Military on Saturday cancelled a seminar scheduled for March 26 geared toward elevating consciousness in regards to the Uniform Civil Code and different subjects.

The Military, nonetheless, mentioned it had nothing to do with the subject of the seminar and was solely offering administrative assist to its organisers.

Late Friday, the Military despatched out invites to media homes for the seminar on the topic “Navigating authorized frontiers: Understanding Indian Penal Code 2023 and the hunt for Uniform Civil Code”. It was alleged to be held on the Kashmir College Auditorium.

Nonetheless, there was backlash from regional political events with former chief minister and Nationwide Convention (NC) vice chairman Omar Abdullah questioning the Military’s involvement in a “divisive” difficulty just like the Uniform Civil Code in a delicate place like Kashmir.

“Is it acceptable for the Indian Military to become involved within the divisive difficulty of the uniform civil code & that too in a delicate space like Kashmir? There’s a purpose the Indian Military has remained apolitical & non secular. This ill-advised UCC seminar is a menace to each these fundamental tenets,” Abdullah mentioned in a publish on ‘X’.

Going forward with the seminar dangers opening up the Military to prices of getting concerned within the “murky world” of politics coupled with “interfering” in non secular issues, he added.

His celebration colleague and NC chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq requested the Election Fee (EC) to “assess the appropriateness” of the Military discussing a problem that figures prominently within the BJP’s manifesto whereas the Mannequin Code of Conduct (MCC) is in impact. The Peoples Democratic Get together (PDP) additionally criticised the Military for the seminar.

“What we’re seeing is the continuation of the pattern of ‘Naya Kashmir’ and ‘Akhir Kab Tak’ campaigns wherein the Military as an establishment was seen as enjoying a partisan function and instantly interfering within the political affairs of J-Ok,” PDP spokesperson Najmus Saqib mentioned.

“Publish-backlash, we had seen some systemic modifications, however sadly the seminar by the India Military as an establishment depicts how far the strains between politics and safety equipment have blurred in J-Ok,” he added. The Military mentioned it cancelled the occasion “as a result of implementation of the Mannequin Code of Conduct”.

“The Authorized Consciousness Seminar on March 26 by Kashmir Jurist in Kashmir College has been cancelled as a result of implementation of the Mannequin Code of Conduct,” Srinagar-based Defence Spokesman Lt Col Manoj Sahu mentioned in a press release.

Later, the defence spokesman instructed PTI that the Military has nothing to do with the subject of the seminar. “We’re solely offering administrative assist to Kashmir Jurists, who had been organisers of this occasion,” Lt Col Sahu mentioned.

He mentioned the invites had been despatched out by the Military in “good religion” to facilitate an educational dialogue. The invite for the seminar to the media individuals was despatched by Srinagar-based PRO Defence on behalf of the Normal Officer Commanding, HQ 31 Sub Space, Main Normal PBS Lamba. (With inputs from PTI)