The decision of the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh to introduce a law mandating disincentives for couples with more than two children appears to have set the ball rolling for BJP leaders in other states to push for similar measures.
BJP national general secretary C.T. Ravi on Tuesday demanded a population control law in Karnataka on the lines of the legislations being discussed in Uttar Pradesh and Assam.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar sought to distance himself from calls for such measures. ANI quoted him as saying on July 12 that population control cannot be attained by just making laws. “Every state is independent to do what they want. My opinion is very clear that population control can't be attained by just making laws. When women will be educated, they will become conscious enough, and the fertility rate will decrease,” Nitish said.
Bihar is the third-most populous state in India after Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. However, Bihar is the most densely populated state in the country; according to the census of 2011, Bihar had 1,106 people living per square kilometre.
Curiously, Nitish Kumar's lack of enthusiasm for proactive population control measures was in contrast to the statements of his chief ally, the BJP.
Bihar BJP chief Sanjay Jaiswal on Tuesday argued that Bihar should adopt a 'one-child norm'. Nitish himself had introduced a law in 2006-07 that barred people with more than two children from contesting municipal polls. Jaiswal was quoted by The Indian Express as saying Nitish Kumar should consider encouraging a “positive regulation like one-child norm”.
Jaiswal told The Indian Express, "I appreciate UP CM Yogi Adityanath for having a policy that encourages families adhering to one-child norm. Such positive regulation can help a great deal in curbing population… there is no need for a national legislation on population control as 24 states have already achieved population stabilisation. States like Bihar and UP need effective and workable legislation.”
Samrat Choudhary, the Panchayati Raj Minister of Bihar, also batted for a population control law in Bihar. Samrat is an MLC of the BJP.
Choudhary was quoted by ANI as saying, "A law should be made on population control. Nitish Kumar had already implemented this in 2006-07, under which people with over two children will be barred from contesting elections. This should be extended to villages. If population is not controlled, then people will not be educated and their financial situation will not improve. Sisters of our country have been educated and have moved forward. There is a need for such a strict law."
also read
- Patna hotel fire: What we know so far as 6 killed, many injured
- INDIA bloc 'Ghamandia gathbandhan’, RJD face of ‘jungle raj’: PM Modi in Bihar
- ‘What we did in last 10 years is just the trailer’: PM Modi in Bihar
- 'Tickets given to outsiders': Major blow to Chirag Paswan's LJP and BJP as 22 leaders resign
On Monday, Union Rural Development Minister Giriraj Singh batted for a population control law in Bihar along the lines of the legislation in Uttar Pradesh. Bihar BJP MLA Haribhushan Thakur was quoted by Hindustan Times as saying, "A conspiracy is under way to turn India into an Islamic nation. The Bihar government needs to enact a stronger population policy to foil the design by certain elements.”
However, the JD(U) and opposition parties dismissed the demand. JD(U) leader Ghulam Gaus alleged the BJP was attempting to use the population issue to polarise voters on communal lines, while RJD spokesman Mrityunjay Tiwari said, “A particular religion was being targeted through the policy."
