UCC in West Bengal Within 6 Months, Says CM Suvendu Adhikari; Laws Against ‘Love Jihad’ and ‘Land Jihad’ Planned

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has announced that his government plans to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state within six months, following the examples of Uttarakhand and Gujarat. He also said laws would be brought against what he described as “love jihad”, “land jihad” and forced religious conversion. Addressing a gathering in Kolkata, Adhikari said his government would function within the framework of the Constitution and would not allow attacks on Indian culture or places of worship.

Suvendu Adhikari Sets Six-Month Timeline for UCC

Adhikari said West Bengal would move ahead with the UCC within six months. The announcement follows the BJP government's stated commitment to introduce a common civil law framework in the state. The proposed UCC is expected to cover personal-law matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption. The West Bengal government had earlier initiated work on a draft UCC Bill and constituted a committee headed by retired Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai to examine it. Gujarat UCC Gets President’s Assent, State Moves Towards Implementation.

The UCC was also a key promise in the BJP's 2026 West Bengal Assembly election campaign, with the party pledging to implement it within six months of coming to power.

Laws Against ‘Love Jihad’, ‘Land Jihad’ and Conversion

The Chief Minister also said his government would bring strict laws against “love jihad”, “land jihad” and religious conversion after implementing the UCC. The terms “love jihad” and “land jihad” have been used by BJP leaders in the context of alleged religious conversion through relationships and alleged attempts to acquire land for communal or religious purposes. The BJP's West Bengal election manifesto had also promised laws addressing these issues. Adhikari further said a strict law would be framed to prevent forced religious conversion.

CM Says Government Will Follow Constitution

Adhikari also sought to assure the gathering that the state government would operate in accordance with the Constitution. He said the government would not allow attacks on Indian culture or places of worship, while positioning the proposed measures as part of its broader cultural and governance agenda. "Crossed a Historic Legal Milestone:" BJP Leader Karunasagar Hails Presidential Assent to the Gujarat UCC Bill 2026.

₹1,000 Crore Religious Tourism Circuit Planned

Alongside the proposed legal measures, Adhikari announced plans for a religious tourism circuit in West Bengal. According to reports, the project is expected to be completed within two years, with ₹1,000 crore earmarked for its development. Adhikari also sought suggestions and cooperation from the gathering for the project. The announcement comes as the new BJP government in West Bengal pushes its broader agenda, including the implementation of the UCC and measures linked to religious conversion and what it describes as protection of the state's social and cultural interests.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 04, 2026 04:19 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).