Suvendu government eyes anti-conversion law and land sale curbs; Rs 1,610 crore earmarked for Paschimanchal

MP, August 12, 2026, Kolkata : With the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC) poised to become the BJP government’s first major ideological legislation in Bengal, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday hinted at the next fronts of his political-legal agenda — religious conversion and inter-community land transactions, while unveiling a Rs 1,610 crore roadmap for development of Paschimanchal (western districts).

Addressing a review meeting of the Paschimanchal Unnayan Parishad (PUP) in Bankura, Adhikari said his government would soon bring in a stringent law against forced religious conversion and impose “legal restrictions” on the sale and purchase of land across communities.

He also warned against what he described as illegal religious conversions and extremist activities allegedly taking place in Bankura and Junglemahal, claiming that some of these activities were being funded from abroad.

“Very soon, we are bringing the UCC — one country, one law, one Chief Minister. After that, our next steps will be the introduction of strict laws to prevent forced religious conversion and impose legal restrictions on the buying and selling of land,” he added.

The Chief Minister said Rs 1,610 crore had been earmarked for the current financial year for development in the western districts, of which Rs 1,600 crore would be spent directly on development projects and Rs 10 crore on salaries of officials and employees.

He announced a three-month action plan for September, October and November. Project identification and preparation of detailed project reports will be completed in September, tenders will be invited in October, and work will begin after the Puja season, when the dry season sets in.

Backward gram panchayats will be given priority, with instructions to undertake projects worth at least Rs 50 lakh in each area.

Given the extreme summer heat, schools in Junglemahal will be prioritised for fans, drinking water, kitchens with dining facilities and separate toilets for boys and girls.

Renovation of primary schools and ICDS centres will also be taken up on priority.

The meeting was attended by MPs and MLAs from Bankura, Purulia, Jhargram, West Midnapore, Birbhum and East and West Burdwan, besides Cabinet ministers, district magistrates and around 75 block development officers (BDOs).

Adhikari accused the previous government of neglecting the development of the western districts and claimed that only Rs 20 crore had been allocated to the department in the previous financial year, of which barely Rs 6 crore was spent.

The Chief Minister also announced measures to improve administrative access, including a new PUP office in Jhargram and a camp office at the Birbhum zilla parishad in Suri alongside the existing Bolpur office.

Adhikari expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of some BDOs, and stressed that they need to become more active because implementation is their responsibility.

He further emphasised the need for smooth implementation of the six flagship schemes so that they reach the intended beneficiaries.

These include the Annapurna Yojana; Ayushman Bharat, the Mukhyamantri Swasthya Bima Yojana (for those who do not come under Ayushman Bharat); the Viksit Bharat Yojana popularly known as VB G RAM G; Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana; Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar and Jal Jeevan Mission.

Pointing out the appointment of Anil Verma as PSC chairman and Dushyant Nariala as SSC chairman as evidence of the government’s intention to keep allegedly corrupt elements out of the recruitment process, he said: “The recruiting agencies have been given full autonomy.”

The chief minister also linked the government’s welfare and electoral concerns to the contentious issue of Bangladeshi Hindu refugees.

He said Hindu refugees from Bangladesh who apply under the Citizenship Amendment Act should not be deprived of ration, Annapurna or old-age benefits until their applications are disposed of.