West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday said that the BJP government in the state will implement strict laws against “love jihad”, “land jihad” and forced religious conversion.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already abrogated Articles 370 and 35A of the Constitution. West Bengal will introduce the Uniform Civil Code. Have faith. Give us some time. We will make strict and stringent laws against love jihad, land jihad and forced religious conversion,” Adhikari said.
“Love jihad” is a term widely used by right-wing groups to describe marital relations between Muslim men and Hindu women, although the courts and the Center do not officially recognize the term.
Adhikari was addressing a program organized to commemorate the 189th birth anniversary of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and commemorate the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram in Kolkata. Earlier in the day, he told reporters that the government is likely to introduce a bill on UCC on Monday during the ongoing budget session.
“UCC will be implemented in West Bengal. There is a procedure to be followed. A committee has to be constituted headed by a judge. Uttarakhand, Gujarat and Assam have done this before. I will say this in the Assembly on Monday,” he said.
The BJP, in its election manifesto ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, promised to implement the UCC within six months of taking charge.
Adhikari also said that the new government transferred territory to the Border Security Forces on the one hand while building detention centers in the border areas soon after taking charge. The government has also made the singing of ‘Vande Mataram’ compulsory during congregational prayers in all state-run schools and madrassas.
The Prime Minister said: “People are forced to stand because it is a government order, but not everyone moves their lips. They have to move their lips. It will take time. Have faith. Rather, we will ensure it.” (today?)
