Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has set a six-month deadline for several of his government’s major promises, including the Uniform Civil Code and laws against “love jihad” and “land jihad”.
The project is planned for completion within two years. Adhikari asked people to contribute suggestions and cooperate with the government on the project. The chief minister also announced a Rs 1,000-crore religious tourism circuit for the state.
This time he also announced his intention to draw up laws against ‘Love Jihad’ and ‘Land Jihad’ within six months. The UCC is at the drafting and review stage in the state. The government has set up a nine-member committee headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai to examine the draft law. The committee includes former Meghalaya Governor Tathagata Roy, senior bureaucrats, a retired IAS officer, an educationist, a social activist and a Calcutta High Court lawyer. The announcements place cultural and religious issues along with the UCC in the BJP government’s early legislative programme. Religious events also feature prominently in the government’s upcoming programme.
The chif minister said 20,000 people would take part in a collective Hanuman Chalisa recital at Netaji Indoor Stadium in November. A mass Bhagavad Gita recital involving 10 lakh people is planned for December 29.
Speaking at an event in Kolkata on the occasion of the birth centenary of former Vishwa Hindu Parishad President Ashok Singhal, he said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government would work within the Constitution while protecting Indian culture, Sanatani traditions, temples, monasteries and the state’s heritage. The chief minister also promised stringent laws against “love jihad” and “land jihad” during the same period. He said the government would not permit “any anti-national activity” and urged people to stay united and alert to “divisive forces”. Adhikari said his government would protect temples, monasteries and traditions associated with leaders such as Swami Vivekananda and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Criticising the previous Trinamool Congress (TMC) government, the chief minister said there were several reasons behind its defeat. He cited repeated incidents that he said hurt Hindu sentiments, religious organisations, deities and traditions. Earlier reporting noted: Addressing an event in Kolkata marking the birth centenary of former Vishwa Hindu Parishad chief Ashok Singhal, Suvendu Adhikari said, “Give us six months; we will also introduce stringent laws against ‘Love Jihad’ and ‘Land Jihad’.
Earlier reporting noted: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari reiterated his intention to implement the Uniform Civil Code in the state, similar to Uttarakhand and Gujarat.
