RSS on Population Control: A magazine associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has claimed that with the increase in Muslim population in some areas of the country, ‘demographic imbalance’ i.e. changes in demography are increasing. It has also talked about the need for a comprehensive national population control policy. The editorial published in ‘Organizer’ has expressed concern over regional imbalance in terms of population and advocated policy intervention.
The magazine writes that states in the west and south are doing a relatively better job in implementing population control measures, but they fear losing some seats in Parliament due to population changes after the census. According to the editorial, “Despite the population being stable at the national level, it is not the same across all religions and regions. There has been a significant increase in the Muslim population in some areas, especially the border districts.”
It says that in border states like West Bengal, Bihar, Assam and Uttarakhand, the population is increasing in an “unnatural” way due to “illegal migration” across the borders. According to the editorial, “In a democracy when numbers are important for representation and demography decides fate, we should be even more cautious about this trend.”
Rahul Gandhi and Mamta Banerjee were also attacked
“Leaders like Rahul Gandhi may occasionally insult Hindu sentiments. (West Bengal Chief Minister) Mamata (Banerjee) can play the Muslim card even while acknowledging the atrocities committed on women by Islamists and Dravidian parties can take pride in abusing Sanatan Dharma because they are confident of the consolidation of the so-called minority vote bank that has developed due to the population imbalance,” the editorial alleged.
The article further states, “Learning from the horrors of Partition and the politically correct but socially and culturally incorrect displacement from West Asian and African countries, we must urgently resolve this issue, as stated in various RSS resolutions and judicial verdicts.”
There is a need to formulate a national population policy
The editorial further said that regional imbalance is another ‘important dimension’, which will affect the process of delimitation of parliamentary constituencies in future. According to the magazine, “We need policies to ensure that population growth does not disproportionately affect any one religious community or region, which can lead to socio-economic inequality and political conflict.”
The article says, “Instead of being influenced by external agendas being pushed through international organisations, research institutes and agencies, we should try to formulate a comprehensive national population policy keeping in view the availability of resources in the country, future requirements and the problem of demographic imbalance and apply it equally to all.”