West Bengal To Bring 'Land Jihad' And 'Love Jihad' Law: CM Suvendu Adhikari's Big Announcement

Last Updated:June 27, 2026, 14:43 IST

West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari said the state will implement the UCC, bring an anti-conversion law and follow the model adopted by Uttarakhand, Gujarat and Assam.

The West Bengal government will move ahead with implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and also introduce stricter laws to curb land jihad, love jihad and forced religious conversions, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said on Friday.

Adhikari urged people to remain patient, saying, “Keep the faith. Please allow us some time."

Referring to the state government’s decision to make the singing of Vande Mataram compulsory in educational institutions, the chief minister said that while many people are currently standing during the song, not everyone is singing it yet.

“Now, everybody is standing (to sing the song) but their lips are not moving. It will take time and soon their lips will also start moving. No anti-national activity will be allowed in the land of Rishi Aurobindo, Netaji and Syama Prasad Mookerjee," he said.

The BJP’s 2026 West Bengal election manifesto had promised to implement the Uniform Civil Code within six months of assuming office. It also pledged to bring in an anti-conversion law aimed at preventing “illegal, deceptive or forced religious conversions" and committed to removing illegal encroachments from wetlands, forest reserves and government land within 200 days.

On the proposed UCC legislation, Adhikari said West Bengal would adopt a framework similar to the one followed in Uttarakhand, Gujarat and Assam. He said a committee headed by a retired judge would be constituted as part of the prescribed process, with public opinion and stakeholder feedback being sought before the Bill is introduced.

“There is a prescribed procedure for implementation of UCC. A committee will be set up under a retired judge. The process will be the same as that adopted in Gujarat, Uttarakhand and Assam," he said.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shankar Ghosh said the process of introducing the West Bengal Uniform Civil Code Bill, 2026, is currently underway.

The proposed legislation, however, has drawn criticism from Opposition parties, which argued that it could deepen social divisions.

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra questioned the government’s intent behind the Bill and expressed concern over its potential impact on minorities, tribal communities and existing personal laws.

“We are very concerned about the intent of the bill. We believe it is being brought only for polarisation," she said.

West Bengal Congress president Shubhankar Sarkar also said his party would oppose the proposed law, arguing that legislation of such significance should follow extensive consultations with all communities.

“We will certainly oppose UCC. India is a diverse country and its diversity must be respected. A single law may be good in principle, but requires support from all. Politics is a numbers game. While statistics may favour one side, healthy debate and discourse remain essential," he said.

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