West Bengal exempts Kurmi community from Uniform Civil Code implementation

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has announced that the Kurmi community will be exempted from the Uniform Civil Code and pledged to withdraw cases filed against community members during agitations held under the previous Trinamool Congress administration.

Speaking at a Karam festival programme in Purulia, Mr. Adhikari said many Kurmi leaders had approached him requesting that the community be kept outside the UCC's ambit. The Kurmis are a significant community in West Bengal's Jangalmahal region.

Cases from earlier protests to be withdrawn

The Chief Minister said cases registered against Kurmi community members during protests under the previous government would be withdrawn. Members of the Kurmi community had organised road and railway blockades across parts of West Bengal during the Trinamool Congress government's tenure, demanding Scheduled Tribe status and inclusion of the Kurmali language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.

The community is currently categorised as Other Backward Class and has been demanding ST status.

State to submit fresh report on ST demand

The West Bengal government has said it would submit a "Further Common Justification Report" to the Centre to support the inclusion of the Kurmi community in the ST list. Mr. Adhikari also promised to push for constitutional recognition of the Kurmali and Rajbanshi languages.

Committee formed to implement UCC

On the Uniform Civil Code, the State government has set up a committee led by former Supreme Court judge Ranjana Gopal Desai to work out the modalities for implementing the proposed code in the State. The government has already promised to keep ST out of the ambit of the UCC.

Accusations against previous government

Mr. Adhikari accused the previous government of creating divisions within the Kurmi community and said his government would fulfil the promises made in its election manifesto. "The previous government (in West Bengal) created divisions among the Kurmis... It never wanted them to stay united. We will, on the other hand, keep all promises made to the community in our 'Sankalp Patra' before this year's Assembly elections," he said.

The Chief Minister said people of the region had voted for the BJP over the past several years and assured to protect the region's language, diversity and natural resources.

Criticising the previous administration, he alleged that it had been "selling hills" and promised that no natural resources would be auctioned under his tenure. "It is our responsibility to protect the dignity of language, culture, tradition and rights. The previous government was even selling hills! I promised not to let anyone touch any of them. I will not let anyone touch the gifts of nature. No mountain can be auctioned," he said.

Financial allocation announced

Mr. Adhikari also announced an allocation of ₹50 crore for the Kurmi Development Board and said the amount would be increased if necessary.

Several members of the Kurmi community, including prominent leader Ajit Mahato and Purulia BJP MP Jyotirmoy Singh Mahato, attended the festival.

Source: The Hindu