Mohan Bhagwat 'misinterpreted', his emphasis was on uniform population policy, claims RSS

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) clarified on Monday evening that its chief Mohan Bhagwat had never said that “Hindus should produce more children”. Instead, his emphasis was on having a uniform population policy for all living in this country.

According to an RSS source, Bhagwat’s statement, which he reportedly made during an interaction session in Agra on 20 August, was misinterpreted.

Meanwhile, his statement stoked a political controversy. During his four-day stay in Agra, RSS sarsanghchalak Bhagwat had addressed young couples at Agra College, besides interacting with groups of swayamsevaks (RSS volunteers) representing various social strata and professions.

RSS’ version on the ‘misinterpretation of Mohan Bhagwat’s statement’:

- What Mohan Bhagwat didn’t say: Hindus should produce more children. - What he actually said: Which law stops you from producing more children? - What he intended to say: There should be a common law about population growth applicable to all.

The RSS clarified that Bhagwat’s statement was in sync with the resolution passed by Akhil Bharatiya Karyakari Mandal (ABKM) of RSS in October 2015.

“He reiterated the views expressed in the resolution passed by ABKM of RSS in October 2015,” said Manmohan Vaidya, RSS Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh.

The ABKM, in its October 2015 resolution, had raised concern over demographic imbalance and urged the government for reformulation of National Population Policy.

“Reformulate the National Population Policy keeping in view the availability of resources in the country, working hands needed in future and the problem of demographic imbalance, and apply the same uniformly to all,” the ABKM resolution mentioned.

According to RSS sources, during a question-answer session with a group of swayamsevaks, Ashok Kumar Agrawal, an RSS volunteer asked, “In Bharat, the rate of growth of Hindus is 2.1 percent and that of Muslims is 5.2 percent. If the growth rate of Hindu population continues to lag behind the Muslim growth rate (two-and-half times), then after 50 years, how will we live here as a Hindu nation (Hindu Rashtra)? Won’t this nation become an Islamic country?”

Bhagwat reportedly replied, “Considering our resources, our country’s policy on population should be uniform and apply to all.”

“Which law in Bharat stops you from producing more children?” he asked.

What does the October 2015 resolution of ABKM mention?

- Severe demographic imbalances. - Reformulate the National Population Policy keeping in view availability of resources in the country, future needs and the problem of demographic imbalance and apply the same uniformly to all. - Totally curb the illegal infiltration from across the border. Prepare a National Register of Citizens and prevent these infiltrators from acquiring citizenship rights and purchasing land. - The ABKM calls upon the countrymen, including all the swayamsevaks, to take cognizance of the causes of these population changes and consider it their national duty to create public awareness and take all lawful steps to save country from this demographic imbalance.

“Sangh is seriously concerned by this demographic imbalance. This imbalance has given rise to separatism. Separatist activities are taking place in the country only in those places, where the population of Hindus are less. Unfortunately, wherever the Hindu population declined, we’ve witnessed anti-national slogans to divide this country during the last 70 years. The RSS chiefs have been cautioning on this issue, but it doesn’t give message of producing more children,” an RSS functionary remarked.