TMC MP Saugata Roy opposed the UCC in Bengal, saying it would affect the personal laws of minority communities. He accused BJP of communalising the issue and said his party would oppose it in the Assembly.
New Delhi [भारत]June 30 (ANI): Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Saugata Roy on Tuesday protested against the proposed implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in West Bengal. He alleged that it would affect the personal laws and religious beliefs of minority communities and asserted that his party would oppose any such move politically and also in the Assembly.
TMC cornered BJP on UCC
Speaking to ANI, Roy accused the BJP of trying to “communalize” the issue and said TMC has consistently opposed the UCC. Roy said, “We have always opposed the Uniform Civil Code. This is an attempt by the BJP government to communalise the issue. It was generally accepted that the Uniform Civil Code will not be implemented without the consent of the minority communities. Now, the Uniform Civil Code that is being proposed will affect Muslims and Christians. Both the communities have their own individual laws as per their religious texts. So we do not want this.”
He said the party had supported abolition of triple talaq but would not support the proposed UCC. He said, “We supported the abolition of triple talaq, but we will not support this Uniform Civil Code. We will oppose the Uniform Civil Code. Minority communities have their own personal laws regarding marriage, divorce, inheritance etc. They have followed them for centuries. Why should it be removed suddenly? It will hurt their religious beliefs. That is why we are against this UCC.”
State government formed committee
Roy further said that there were reports that the West Bengal government would introduce UCC, but the state government has instead announced the formation of a committee headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Desai to examine the issue. “They had said they would introduce the Uniform Civil Code tomorrow, but now the Chief Minister has announced that a committee will be formed under a retired Supreme Court judge. We don’t know when it will happen, but our protest over the Uniform Civil Code will continue,” he said.
Claiming that the UCC has not been implemented at the national level in almost eight decades since Independence, Roy said only a few states have adopted it and reiterated that if any law on the issue is brought in the Assembly, the TMC will oppose it.
Criticism of removal of Muslim communities from OBC list
Roy also criticized the state government’s decision to remove some Muslim communities from the Other Backward Classes (OBC) list, calling it “unfair”. He said, “Muslims were included in the OBC list to provide economic assistance. Now, it is unfair to suddenly remove them without reference to the High Court or the Backward Classes Commission. They belonged to the deprived class. This right is being taken away from them. Very wrong.”
UCC announced in assembly
Roy’s comments come a day after the West Bengal Assembly passed the West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Bill, 2026 and the West Bengal Maintenance of Public Order (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
During the Assembly proceedings, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said the state was moving towards the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code and announced the formation of a committee headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Desai to prepare a roadmap. He said a draft law would be placed before the state cabinet on July 2. (ANI)
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