Rajasthan's UCC Drafting and Religious Structure Crackdown: A Political Strategy?

The state government has recently announced the start of the process of drafting the UCC in Rajasthan. The administrative crackdown on mosques, mausoleums, and other religious structures within a 50-kilometre radius from the border in the border areas of Jaisalmer and Barmer has also become a subject of political debate. Political observers believe that these incidents may look different, but electorally their messages are much broader. According to senior journalist Manish Godha, issues such as the UCC, crackdown on illegal religious constructions in border areas, and national security are part of the BJP's strategy to consolidate its traditional vote bank. He says that such crackdowns in border areas are not limited to Rajasthan, but are also taking place in other states of the country. However, in Rajasthan, the issue takes on religious overtones as the construction of religious sites in border areas has increased exponentially in the last few years, and Home Department reports in this regard have also come out. However, due to the relatively higher proportion of Muslim population in border districts such as Jaisalmer and Jaisalmer, experts believe that such actions benefit the BJP politically.