Suvendu Adhikari says a Uniform Civil Code will be introduced within six months. A committee led by a former Supreme Court judge is reviewing the draft.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said on 4 October that his government intended to introduce a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) within six months. He said strict laws against what he called “love jihad,” “land jihad” and religious conversion would follow. The phrases are politically charged terms used by Adhikari, not established legal categories.
He made the remarks in Kolkata at an event marking the birth centenary of former Vishwa Hindu Parishad president Ashok Singhal. Adhikari accused the previous Trinamool Congress government of dividing people by caste and community and urged unity against what he called “divisive forces.” Those were his political claims and do not substantiate allegations against any particular group.
West Bengal formed a committee in July, led by former Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai, to examine the UCC draft. The Hindu reported that the state has prepared a bill covering marriage, divorce and inheritance regardless of residents’ religion or community. The cabinet approved the committee on 2 July and the notification was issued on 10 July. The code has not yet been implemented.
Adhikari also listed a Hanuman Chalisa recital by 20,000 people in November and a Bhagavad Gita recital by one million people on 29 December. He said preparations had begun for next year’s Gangasagar fair.