Bengal govt to push UCC and new laws within six months

NEW DELHI: West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday said his government would introduce stringent laws against what he termed “love jihad” and “land jihad” within six months and implement a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state.

Speaking at an event marking the birth centenary of former VHP president Ashok Singhal, Adhikari said West Bengal would follow Uttarakhand and Gujarat in implementing the UCC. “Give us six months, will also bring stringent laws against love and land jihad,” news agency PTI quoted him as saying.

The state government has already set up a high-level committee headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai to examine a draft UCC. The proposed legislation seeks to bring uniformity in civil laws relating to marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption across communities. Adhikari said his government would function within the Constitution but would not tolerate attacks on Indian culture, traditions, temples and monasteries.

“This government will not allow any anti-national activity here,” he said, urging people to remain united and vigilant against what he called “divisive forces”. “You can rest assured that the government will function in accordance with the Constitution. But it will not allow any attack on Indian culture, Sanatani traditions, temples and monasteries, and our heritage that spiritual icons Vivekananda and Mahaprabhu Sri Chaitanya have propounded.”

The BJP had made implementation of the UCC one of its key promises in the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections. Adhikari also announced plans for a religious tourism circuit, saying the project would be completed within two years with Rs 1,000 crore earmarked for it.