Bengal will bring strict anti-conversion law, implement UCC: Suvendu
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday said his government would bring in a stringent law against ‘land jihad’, ‘love jihad’ and religious conversion, besides implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) as part of measures to strengthen national security and preserve the state’s cultural identity.
Addressing a programme at Rabindra Sadan here to mark the 150th anniversary of ‘Vande Mataram’, Adhikari alleged that infiltration had led to demographic changes and posed a threat to the state’s social fabric and national security.
“Give us some time. A strict law against land jihad, love jihad and forced religious conversion and Uniform Civil Code will be introduced in West Bengal,” he said.
Claiming that his government had strengthened border security by providing land required for border infrastructure, the chief minister said holding centres had been set up in border districts to identify and send back “infiltrators” to their place of origin.
“Those entering illegally and engaging in activities that threaten India’s culture and national security will be sent back,” he said.
Drawing a distinction between illegal immigrants and refugees covered under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), Adhikari said Hindus who had come to India after facing religious persecution were “not infiltrators” and would be granted citizenship under the law.
“We will not allow any anti-national activities on the soil of Bengal, the land of Ramakrishna, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Syama Prasad Mookerjee and Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay,” Adhikari said.
“Those who live here but insult the country’s defence forces, oppose Operation Sindoor, remain silent on the Pahalgam incident and speak only of humanity would not be allowed to indulge in such activities in the state,” he added. Mookerjee gave the slogan of ‘Ek Desh, Ek Vidhan, Ek Pradhan, Ek Nishan’, and we remain committed to that vision, the CM said.
He asserted that his government would not allow any force to weaken West Bengal’s cultural identity or national character, describing the state as India’s “cultural and spiritual capital”.
Paying tributes to Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, Adhikari described the author of Vande Mataram as a visionary litterateur, journalist and administrator whose writings continue to inspire generations.
