Rise above vote bank politics to frame holistic popln policy: Mohan Bhagwat, RSS Chief

NAGPUR: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat today called for a need to rise above vote bank politics to formulate a holistic approach to population policy that is equally applicable to all citizens.

In his annual Dussehra address at RSS headquarters here, Bhagwat made these comments when he said that the facts and figures of last two census reports and the "imbalances" that have come to notice as a result are being widely discussed.

"Our present and future is getting impacted by the same. We need to rise above vote bank politics to formulate a holistic approach, equally applicable to all citizens, towards the population policy," he said, as he deplored that no holistic discussion has taken place in the country on population control.

The remarks on vote bank politics were part of the text of his speech available on RSS website and the summary circulated by the organisation but did not form part of his spoken address.

Bhagwat also said such a population policy cannot be enforced by the Governments or laws, all alone.

"Considerable efforts are required to tune society's psyche to the same. It would be prudent to think about the same during policy making exercise," he added.

Bhagwat, without naming any community, favoured a "uniform population policy which is applicable to all".

"With rise in population, the burden on the country will grow. Population growth can be an asset too. If we have more mouths to feed, we will also have more hands to work. We have to plan for 50 years hence. How to provide for the education and health of the people," he said.

According to 2001-11 Census data, the Muslim population still grew at a faster rate than the Hindu population, but the gap between the two growth rates is narrowing fast.