West Bengal leader promises UCC within six months and new religious laws
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has promised to implement the Uniform Civil Code in the state within six months and said his government would pursue laws against what he called “love jihad”, “land jihad” and forced religious conversion. He also announced religious programmes in Kolkata.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has promised to implement the Uniform Civil Code in the state within six months and said his government would introduce laws on religious conversion and issues he described as “love jihad” and “land jihad”. Addressing a gathering, Adhikari said West Bengal would follow Uttarakhand and Gujarat, which he cited as states moving towards implementation of the UCC. “Give me six months,” he said while making the commitment.
He said that, after the UCC, his government would work on strict laws against what he called “love jihad”, “land jihad” and religious conversion. He also separately promised legislation against forced religious conversion. The source does not provide details of a proposed bill, the legal definition of the terms used by Adhikari or a timetable for legislative action.
It also does not include a response from political opponents or minority organisations. Adhikari appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over employment and called for action against people he described as having entered the country from outside. He praised Modi’s leadership and said that a nationalist government had been brought to power in West Bengal.
The chief minister also accused the previous administration of dividing communities, citing the Tamang, Lepcha, Rai, Rajbanshi, Matua, Adivasi and Kurmi communities. These claims were made in his speech and were not accompanied by further evidence in the supplied material. Adhikari announced a Hanuman Chalisa recitation in Kolkata on November 17 and a Gita recitation at Brigade Parade Ground on December 29.
The announcements came as his government outlined plans linking the UCC, religious conversion and cultural identity.
This independently written report is based on information supplied by the named publisher. Vertrix News has not independently verified the source report.