Union home minister Amit Shah announced Sunday that all 21 states governed by the BJP and its allies will implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) before 2029. Speaking in Mumbai, Shah stated, "We have introduced UCC in several states and I am confident that in the 21 BJP-NDA-governed states, we will introduce UCC before 2029." The claim follows recent state-level actions, including Uttarakhand becoming the first state to fully enforce the UCC since January 2025.

Uttarakhand was the first state to pass a UCC law in February 2024, while Madhya Pradesh approved the legislation in a special cabinet meeting last month. Gujarat and Assam have also passed UCC bills, though they await presidential assent. Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Chhattisgarh have formed drafting committees for the legislation. Shah highlighted these developments as part of the BJP-led government's broader agenda, including the abolition of triple talaq and the dilution of Articles 370 and 35A of the Constitution.

Shah claimed the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A was achieved without bloodshed, asserting that surgical strikes, air strikes, and Operation Sindoor had established a policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism. He also stated the government had ended five decades of Maoism and signed over 14 peace agreements in the northeast region, with more than 9,000 people having surrendered. However, no specific details were provided on the methods used to identify and deport illegal Bangladeshi migrants, as Shah refused to disclose the tools being deployed.

The home minister did not provide a response to questions about the use of the 1951 baseline for the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur, stating that discussions were ongoing with allies and political parties. He reiterated the government's resolve to identify and deport infiltrators, but no further clarification was given on the process. Additionally, Shah did not confirm whether a white paper would be released on the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank scam case, which involves conflicting findings by state and central agencies.

While Shah claimed the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita has strengthened the criminal justice system, with some states reporting a 30% increase in conviction rates, no specific data was provided to support this assertion. The claim was made in the context of the government's broader narrative on law and order, but no independent verification of the conviction rate increase was cited. The home minister also outlined the NDA allies' nationwide campaign, Seva Sankalp Abhiyan, which begins on September 17 to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 25 years in top administrative positions.

The implementation of the UCC remains a contentious issue, with concerns about its impact on religious freedoms and the potential for discrimination. While Shah emphasized the benefits of the UCC for Muslim women, no detailed analysis of its effects on other communities was included. The timeline for full implementation across all 21 states remains unclear, and the methods for enforcing the UCC in states yet to pass legislation are not specified. The situation continues to evolve, with further developments expected as the 2029 elections approach.