RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat advocates for couples to have at least '3 children', faces opposition flak

PTC News Desk: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat's has advised couples to have at least three children. RSS chief's advocation comes in the light of declining population growth. He further expressed concerns and said if the total fertility rate (TFR) of a society falls below 2.1, it faces risk of extinction.

While speaking about the declining population of India, RSS chief Bhagwat said, "The decline in population is a matter of concern. Modern population science says that when the fertility rate of a society goes below 2.1, that society vanishes from the earth. The society gets destroyed even without any crisis. In this way, many languages and societies have disappeared. The population should not fall below 2.1."

However, Bhagwat's remarks did not go well with opposition and drew shar criticism. The remarks have sparked a row particularly in Bihar, where the issue of population control and caste-based census have become politically charged. Opposition have said that Bhagwat should give this advice first to BJP members itself as they want to implement common civil code. 

Notably, Bhagwat, in his speech at the 'Kathale Kul (clan) Sammelan' in Nagpur, had highlighted that family is an integral part of the society and every family serves as a key building block.

Meanwhile BJP defended RSS chief's remarks and said that if Mohan Bhagwat said something then it must be in the nation's favour. Noting that RSS is a patriotic organization, he said that Bhagwat's statement should be viewed positively.