📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Prime Minister's Office
Politics
West Bengal to Roll Out NRC and Anti-Conversion Law, Says Suvendu Adhikari
✍️ The Business Standard
🗓 20 Jul 2026, 04:47 PM
👁 32
Opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari announced that the West Bengal government will implement a National Register of Citizens (NRC) and a new law to curb religious conversions.
Opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari, who heads the opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, today announced that the state will introduce a National Register of Citizens (NRC) and a new law aimed at curbing religious conversions. He said the NRC will be rolled out in phases and will serve to identify and document citizens, thereby addressing concerns over illegal immigration.
Adhikari explained that the anti-conversion legislation would require individuals and organisations to obtain prior permission before conducting religious conversions. He added that the law is intended to safeguard religious harmony and prevent coercive practices.
The announcement was made during a press briefing in Kolkata, where Adhikari emphasized that the measures would be implemented in a transparent and inclusive manner. He urged the government to ensure that the NRC process would be fair and accessible to all residents.
While the opposition welcomed the move as a step toward greater accountability, critics raised questions about the potential impact on minority communities and the need for safeguards against misuse. The government has yet to respond to the proposal.
Adhikari explained that the anti-conversion legislation would require individuals and organisations to obtain prior permission before conducting religious conversions. He added that the law is intended to safeguard religious harmony and prevent coercive practices.
The announcement was made during a press briefing in Kolkata, where Adhikari emphasized that the measures would be implemented in a transparent and inclusive manner. He urged the government to ensure that the NRC process would be fair and accessible to all residents.
While the opposition welcomed the move as a step toward greater accountability, critics raised questions about the potential impact on minority communities and the need for safeguards against misuse. The government has yet to respond to the proposal.