World · India Bureau
Bengal Opposition Leader Pledges Stricter Laws on Civil Code, Interfaith Unions
Suvendu Adhikari, a senior opposition figure in West Bengal, has outlined plans for stringent legislation on civil matters and interfaith relationships, speaking at an event commemorating a Hindu nationalist leader.
LSN India ·
Addressing a gathering in Kolkata marking the birth centenary of Ashok Singhal, the late chief of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Suvendu Adhikari said his party would introduce tough laws within six months if given the opportunity to govern.
Adhikari, who leads the opposition in the state assembly, cited a uniform civil code and measures against interfaith marriages—issues that have gained prominence in political discourse across India—as priorities for legislative action.
The remarks were made during an event honoring Singhal, a prominent figure in India's Hindu nationalist movement who passed away in 2015. The event underscores the ideological alignment between regional political movements and national Hindu nationalist platforms.
A uniform civil code has long been advocated by certain political factions as a means to consolidate disparate personal laws across religious communities. Legislation regulating interfaith marriages, termed "love jihad" laws by proponents, has been enacted in several states and remains contested on constitutional and secular governance grounds.
Adhikari's statements reflect broader political competition in Bengal, where multiple parties vie for electoral support by advancing distinct legislative agendas on civil and social matters.