Navneet Rana’s Call for Hindus to Have 4 Children Sparks Political Row

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Navneet Rana has triggered a political controversy after urging Hindus to have at least three to four children, citing concerns over demographic change in India.

Speaking to reporters in Maharashtra’s Amravati, Rana claimed that members of another community openly speak about having multiple wives and large families, and alleged that this posed a threat to India’s demographic balance. She said Hindus should respond by increasing their family size to ensure that “Hindustan does not turn into Pakistan.”

“I appeal to all Hindus. Some people say they have four wives and 19 children. To counter this, we should have at least three to four children,” Rana said, adding that population growth was being used as a deliberate strategy.

Her remarks quickly drew sharp reactions from opposition leaders. Manickam Tagore, a Congress MP, criticised the statement as “unscientific” and warned against politicising population issues. He said India was already facing challenges related to population growth and that responsible policymaking required a data-driven approach.

Tagore further alleged that such rhetoric reflected what he described as “mad thinking” and called for an end to demographic fear-mongering, stressing that states struggling to stabilise population growth were already paying a heavy economic and social cost.

The controversy has also revived debate around population policies within the ideological ecosystem of the ruling party. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat has previously advocated for Indian families to have at least three children, citing concerns over declining fertility rates and long-term demographic stability.

Rana’s comments have added fuel to an already polarised discussion on population, religion, and politics, with critics warning that such statements risk deepening social divisions.