BJP leader Navneet Rana has sparked a political controversy by linking family planning with national security and urging Hindus to have more children. Referring to minorities, she cited the example of a maulana with four wives and 19 children, and said Hindus should have at least four children. Her remarks triggered sharp reactions and widened the debate over population and religion.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi strongly responded to Rana's comments and mocked the argument. Taking a dig at the BJP, he said, "Why four? Have eight children if you want. What's it to us?" He added that he himself has six children, and no one stopped him, saying people should focus on their own lives instead of targeting others.
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Owaisi questions BJP's stand
Criticising Rana's advice, Owaisi said having children is a personal choice, but questioned what kind of future those children would have. He pointed out that India has a large young population, yet the government is failing to provide enough jobs. Taking aim at the BJP government, he asked whether it would offer employment to these children or turn them into cow vigilantes.
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Debate on family planning laws
Owaisi also highlighted existing family planning rules, noting that in Maharashtra, people with more than two children were earlier barred from contesting panchayat elections, though the rule was later changed. He said such laws show the contradiction in political statements on population. Apart from Navneet Rana, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has also recently spoken in favour of having three children, adding to the ongoing national debate on population and family planning.
