NEW DELHI: Union minority affairs minister Kiren Rijiju on Sunday said tribals in the northeast and other parts of the country will be kept out of the ambit of the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC), so that they can “freely” live their lives as per their social systems.Speaking at the inauguration of Bhagwan Birsa Munda Bhavan – a tribal research and training centre built by RSS-affiliate Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram — in Delhi, Rijiju said: “Some people create a bizarre atmosphere on social media these days and build a narrative against the Centre. Being a Union minister, I want to share the stand of our govt. Our govt and party (BJP) think about (bringing) a Uniform Civil Code in the country as per the Constitution. When criminal law is equal for all, why should civil law also not be (equal for everyone)?”He added that while some states have already started work on UCC, tribals will remain outside its scope. “We have clearly said that tribals will be exempted from it. Let Adivasis be given the freedom to live in their own way. This (UCC) will not be implemented in Schedule 6, Schedule 5, the northeast and other tribal areas in the country,” Rijiju said. The issue of a UCC is being examined by the Law Commission. Uttarakhand has already brought it into force. At the event, Rijiju joined Union urban development and energy minister Manohar Lal Khattar and RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale in unveiling a statue of tribal freedom fighter Birsa Munda. Hosabale underlined the importance of tribal culture in shaping India’s national identity. He said tribals should not be seen as relics of the past but as a “living culture” that enriches the country. “India’s national identity cannot be imagined without the tribal heritage. Development in tribal areas should empower them, not displace them. Tribals must be partners in growth, not bystanders,” he said, praising the Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram for its decades-long work to protect tribal identity and traditions.Rijiju also reflected on the role of cultural organisations. “Except for the Sangh family and a few other organisations, no organisation has genuinely tried to connect tribals in this country. It is said that the tribals should come into the mainstream. I don’t understand what the mainstream is because Sanatan includes diverse cultures and is united with them all,” he said.The organisers of the event said the new centre would serve as a hub for research, youth leadership training, and awareness programmes aimed at preserving tribal traditions, coinciding with the 150th birth anniversary of Birsa Munda.
