Mon Dec 02 14:14:26 UTC 2024: ## Congress Leader Slams RSS Chief’s Call for More Children Amidst Economic Hardships
**New Delhi:** Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury has sharply criticized RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s call for Indian couples to have at least three children, citing widespread unemployment and economic hardship as major obstacles. Chowdhury’s rebuttal, delivered to NDTV outside Parliament, questioned the feasibility of Bhagwat’s suggestion in the face of rising living costs and job scarcity.
Bhagwat, speaking at an event in Nagpur, expressed concern over India’s declining population growth rate, which has fallen below the replacement fertility rate of 2.1. He argued that maintaining a higher fertility rate is crucial for the nation’s future, citing potential societal instability if the trend continues. He emphasized the importance of family as a societal building block.
Chowdhury countered that unemployed men struggle to find partners, highlighting the financial strain on families. She questioned the practicality of having more children when faced with rising food prices, healthcare costs, and escalating travel expenses. “Are we rabbits that we will keep reproducing?” she asked rhetorically.
Her comments follow Bhagwat’s assertion that India’s population policy, aiming for a total fertility rate above 2.1, necessitates at least three children per couple. This view has found support from Union Minister Chirag Paswan, who echoed Bhagwat’s concerns about the declining fertility rate and its potential societal implications.
The exchange highlights a significant divergence in opinion on India’s demographic future, pitting concerns about population decline against the stark realities of economic hardship faced by many Indian families. The debate is likely to intensify as the nation grapples with these interconnected challenges.
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