Three children? Prioritise reality first

Bhupesh Baghel slams Bhagwat's population pitch, calls for pragmatism

- Ketan Narottam Tanna

Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has vociferously opposed RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat's call for families to have at least three children, citing the impracticality of such a proposition in the face of India's systemic socio-economic challenges. Baghel's retort underscores a growing political and ideological divide over population control and its implications for India's future.

Bhagwat, speaking in Nagpur, linked declining population rates with societal extinction, advocating for larger families to ensure demographic stability. Citing "population science," he argued that fertility rates below 2.1 threaten societal survival, framing his call within a larger narrative of cultural preservation. "Our population policy needs to reflect this reality," Bhagwat stated, referencing policies dating back to 1998 and 2002.