Posing a new challenge to the prime minister, Narendra Modi-baiter and VHP leader Praveen Togadia virtually backed BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj who was issued a show-cause notice for the “Hindu women should produce four children” remark.
On Tuesday, Togadia said in Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly district that a law for having only two children should be framed which was seen as defending Unnao MP Maharaj’s remark.
“Population of minorities is continuously increasing, but when the issue is raised, a controversy is started. Therefore, a law for having only two children should be framed,” Togadia commented.
The BJP had issued a show-cause notice to Maharaj, asking him to respond within 10 days why he made the controversial statement despite instructions from the party not to do so. Pro-Hindutva statements by some leaders of the BJP and saffron outfits are being used by the Opposition to accuse Modi of pursuing communal agenda.
Togadia, known for not holding back his tongue to deliver hate speeches, reportedly stated the number of Hindus would increase and one day the Tricolour would fly high in Kandahar, Lahore and Dhaka.
He wondered why when Hindus raise their problem, the so called leaders become secular.
BJP leaders recalled that Togadia and Modi have not had the best of relationships when the latter was Gujarat chief minister.
Modi was successful in gagging Togadia for pursuing extreme right wing politics despite his religious organisation VHP even attempting to electorally harm the BJP, recalled party sources.
The VHP which wanted to convert Gujarat into a Hindu state was completely marginalised by Modi during his chief minister stint.
Tackling a resurgent Togadia, who has resurfaced since NDA came to power last May, would be another headache for the prime miniser who believes that such controversial statements are dragging the government’s energy away from pursuing development agenda.
The VHP’s decision to have a conclave in Delhi on March 1 to take a call on contentious issues including conversion is likely to raise political temperature at a time when the Budget Session of Parliament would be on.
While the prime minister has cracked the whip on the party MPs, some leaders–the latest was a Birbhum leader–continue to come up with outlandish statements.
Birbhum BJP joint district president Shyamal Goswami went a step beyond Sakshi Maharaj by stressing that Hindu women should produce at least five women to protect the community.
DH News Service