Women should have 4 kids

BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj's plan to save Hinduism

New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party MP Sakshi Maharaj has triggered yet another controversy by saying all Hindu women must produce at least four children in order to protect the future of Hinduism.He made the comment while addressing a gathering of saints at the second Sant Samagam Mahotsava in Meerut late on Tuesday.

Maharaj also mocked Muslims for having four wives and 40 children. "The concept of four wives and 40 children will not work in India and the time has come when a Hindu woman must produce at least four children in order to protect Hindu religion," he said. "We have accepted the slogan 'Hum do, hamare ek'. Now these traitors are not satisfied. They have given another slogan 'Hum do aur hamara.... They are advocating marriage of a girl to a girl, boy to another boy. This is what the last government did," Maharaj said.

"This is why I... want to request women to give birth to at least four children. Give one to sadhus and ascetics. Media says there are ceasefire violations happening, so send another to the border," he added. Speaking on the issue of conversion, he said neither he nor his party is in favour of it and suggested that a special law should be enacted against conversion. He, however, defended the issue of 'ghar wapsi' or reconversion saying there is nothing wrong with it. "It is a good work. Maharshi Dayanand was the first person who facilitated 'ghar wapsi'. The process of 'ghar wapsi' and "shuddhikaran" (purification) existed in the past and it will go on," he asserted.

He did not stop there and said those who are involved in cow slaughtering would be given capital punishment. Sadhvi Prachi and other saints also addressed the gathering and called upon Hindus to unite for their better future. Sakshi Maharaj has dragged the party into trouble many a time in the past. Sakshi Maharaj was earlier at the centre of a controversy after he described Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse as a "patriot". He later apologised for his comments. Previously VHP leader Ashok Singhal was quoted as saying in February 2014 that Hindu women should have at least five kids. He had said,

"Hindus should not restrict themselves to two children per family. Only when they produce five children will the population of Hindus remain stable." Sakshi Maharaj's statement is nothing new at least where Hindutva leaders are concerned. What remains to be seen is if the PM or the government will take note and ensure that such provocative statements are put to an end, something that hasn't really happened yet.