KOLKATA — West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced on Friday that his government plans to introduce the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) along with stringent legislation targeting religious conversion, ‘love jihad’, and ‘land jihad’. Speaking at a state event at Rabindra Sadan commemorating the 150th anniversary of ‘Vande Mataram’, Adhikari stated these measures are essential to secure national security and preserve the state’s cultural identity.
Adhikari alleged that illegal infiltration has altered the state’s demographics, posing a direct threat to West Bengal’s social fabric. He emphasized that the government has already bolstered border infrastructure and established holding centres in border districts to identify and deport illegal immigrants.
“Those entering illegally and engaging in activities that threaten India’s culture and national security will be sent back,” Adhikari stated.
The Chief Minister drew a sharp distinction between undocumented infiltrators and refugees arriving under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), clarifying that Hindus who fled religious persecution would be granted Indian citizenship. Invoking the legacy of BJP precursor founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee, Adhikari reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the vision of “Ek Desh, Ek Vidhan, Ek Pradhan, Ek Nishan” (One Nation, One Constitution, One Prime Minister, One Flag).
Cultural Initiatives and Emergency Memorials
In addition to policy announcements, Adhikari focused heavily on civic and historical recognition:
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Honoring Anti-Emergency Activists: The state will host a major felicitation ceremony on August 9 to honor “Loktantra Senanis” (democracy fighters) who resisted the 1975 Emergency. A new coordination committee will issue official recognition certificates to eligible individuals.
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Celebrating National Icons: The government has officially marked the birth anniversary of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, the author of Vande Mataram, holding events at his ancestral home in Naihati and his Kolkata residence. Adhikari noted that these sites had been neglected or locked under the previous Trinamool Congress (TMC) regime.
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Civic Engagement: The administration accepted proposals from the Citizen Government Forum to launch seminars on constitutional rights and organize relief operations during natural disasters.
Later in the day, the Chief Minister inaugurated a new BJP party office in Bhowanipore, his Assembly constituency. Adhikari pledged to spend at least two days every month at the new office to interact directly with local citizens and address community grievances.
