West Bengal Assembly Election 2026: ‘BJP to bring UCC in 6 months’: Amit Shah pitches comman civil law in Bengal | India News

The UCC is a proposal for a common personal law for all citizens in India covering marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption, irrespective of religion. It aims to ensure equality before the law and promote national integration by replacing religion-based personal laws with a uniform legal framework.Elections in Bengal, where the BJP is trying to wrest power from the three-time chief minister Mamata BanerjeeFor those who vehemently oppose the UCC, the issue is expected to highly polarize the election as the proposed law forms one of the main proposals of the Sangh that the ruling BJP is rolling out in states it rules.Shah made the comments while releasing the party’s manifesto, “Sankalp Patra”, on the eve of the West Bengal assembly elections.Addressing an event in Kolkata after unveiling the manifesto, Shah said several BJP-ruled states have already implemented the UCC so that a single, uniform law applies to all citizens.“Several BJP-ruled states have implemented the Uniform Civil Code. Within six months, we will implement the UCC in Bengal and ensure that a single, uniform law applies to all citizens across the state,” he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.He also said that the party would take steps to stop infiltration and cattle smuggling across state borders.“We will not only seal Bengal’s borders against infiltrators, but also ensure that not even a cow is smuggled out of India through Bengal,” Shah said.Talking about the party’s election manifesto, Shah said the “Sankalpa Patra” presents a roadmap to address the concerns of various sections of society in the state and aims to bring them out of despair.“This manifesto is a way to bring every part of Bengal out of despair. It will show a new path for farmers who are beset by various fears. This manifesto will also present the roadmap of a better India envisioned by PM Modi to the people of Bengal,” he said.The Union Home Minister also claimed that the people of the state are seeking political change.“People are scared and disillusioned. People want change from the heart. Today we are functioning as the main opposition party in the Bengal Assembly,” he said.Shah also said that a commission headed by a retired Supreme Court judge would be set up to investigate incidents of political violence and introduce three white papers on corruption, political violence and restoration of law and order.“We will set up a commission headed by a retired Supreme Court judge to investigate all cases of political violence — whichever party is targeted — and ensure that each case reaches its logical conclusion. Three white papers will be introduced to address corruption, political violence and restoration of law and order,” Shah said.Centered on the concept of “Sonar Bangla” (Golden Bangla), the manifesto promises regime change with an emphasis on national security, youth employment and women’s safety. Listing the key promises, Shah said the BJP has outlined 15 key promises aimed at addressing governance, development and security concerns in West Bengal.Polling for the 294-member West Bengal Assembly will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with counting of votes on May 4.