'BJP to bring UCC in 6 months': Amit Shah pitches common civil law in Bengal

NEW DELHI: Union home minister Amit Shah on Friday declared that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would implement the RSS and his party's ambitious Uniform Civil Code (UCC) once they are voted to power in high-stakes West Bengal elections.Shah, who has pulled out all the stops ahead of votings in Bengal, in no uncertain terms, has said that the UCC would be rolled out within six months of the BJP coming to power.UCC is a proposal to have one common set of personal laws for all citizens in India, covering marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption, regardless of religion. It aims to ensure equality before law and promote national integration by replacing religion-based personal laws with a uniform legal framework.In the Bengal polls, where BJP strives to wrest power from three-time chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who fiercely opposes the UCC, the issue is expected to highly polarise the elections as the proposed legislation constitutes one of the Sangh's key propositions that the ruling BJP has been rolling out in phases in the states it rules.Shah made these remarks while releasing the party’s manifesto, “Sankalp Patra”, earlier in the day for the West Bengal Assembly elections.Addressing a programme in Kolkata after unveiling the manifesto, Shah said several BJP-ruled states have already implemented the UCC to ensure that a single, uniform set of laws 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 set of laws applies to all citizens across the state," he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.He further said the party would take steps to stop infiltration and cattle smuggling across the state's borders."We will not only seal Bengal's borders against infiltrators but also ensure that not a single cow is smuggled out of India through Bengal," Shah said.Speaking about the party's election manifesto, Shah said the “Sankalp Patra” presents a roadmap to address concerns of various sections of society in the state and aims to bring them out of despair."This manifesto is a path to bring every section of Bengal out of despair. It will show a new way out for farmers surrounded by various kinds of fears. This manifesto will also place before the people of Bengal the roadmap for the developed India envisioned by Prime Minister Modi," he said.The Union home minister further claimed that people in the state are seeking political change."The people are frightened and disillusioned. The people want change from the heart. Today we are working 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 instances of political violence, and that three White Papers would be introduced to address corruption, political violence, and the restoration of law and order."We will constitute a commission headed by a retired Supreme Court judge to investigate all instances of political violence--regardless of which party was targeted--and ensure that every case is brought to its logical conclusion. Three White Papers will be introduced to address corruption, political violence, and the restoration of law and order," said Shah.The manifesto, themed around the concept of “Sonar Bangla” (Golden Bengal), promises a shift in governance with a focus on national security, youth employment, and women's safety. Listing key commitments, Shah said the BJP has outlined 15 major promises aimed at addressing governance, development, and security concerns in West Bengal.Polling for the 294-member Assembly in West Bengal will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with votes set to be counted on May 4.