Nagpur: The National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) has criticised the move for a uniform civil code as a "hidden agenda for hindutva" in the country with its religious and cultural diversities.

"If you impose certain things on certain communities, it will lead to uncertainties and confusion among the society," NCCI president Bishop Mar Geevarghese Coorilos said.

"Enforcing a common civil code will be dangerous," he said, adding it will vitiate the harmonious atmosphere prevailing in the country. It is the collective responsibility of all elected representatives, intellectuals and religious minorities to look into its serious implications.

Every person will be affected, opined Dr Reverend Ipe Joseph, general secretary of NCCI, an apex council of 29 member-churches of non-Catholics and allied agencies and organisations in the country. No country can afford uniform civil code, he said, adding every nation has some diversities.

NCCI has so far not taken up the issue for discussion in the wake of Supreme Court observation, but some member churches have expressed their opinion at their own level, Geevarghese said. The NCCI is meeting in Nagpur from September 16 to 18 where the issue of common civil code would be discussed threadbare, he said.

PTI