The head of a Madhya Pradesh government board has announced a cash reward for young Brahmin couples who decide to have four children.
Pandit Vishnu Rajoria, the president of the Parshuram Kalyan Board, has announced the reward for Rs 1 lakh to couples with four children. Rajoria, who holds a state cabinet minister rank, made the announcement during an event in Indore.
While addressing the gathering, he said that there has been a rise in the number of "heretics" because people have "stopped focusing on our families".
"I have high hopes from the youngsters. We can't expect much from the older people. Listen carefully, you are responsible for the protection of the future generation. Youngsters get settled and stop after one child. This is very problematic. I urge you to have at least four," Pandit Vishnu Rajoria said, according to NDTV.
Announcing the Rs 1 lakh award to couples with four children, he said, "Whether or not I am the board president, the award will be given."
He said that youngsters often told him that education has become expensive. "Manage somehow, but don't lag in giving birth to children. Otherwise, heretics will capture this country," he further said.
However, shortly after his announcement, Rajoria said that the announcement was his "personal initiative" and not a government initiative.
Meanwhile, the Congress in Madhya Pradesh said that Rajoria should reconsider his advice and added that population growth has become a big problem globally.
"He is a learned man, my friend. I want to tell him that population growth is among the world's big problems today. The fewer the children, the easier it would be to ensure their education. A paranoia is being created that Muslims would outnumber Hindus and they would eat Hindus up. These are imaginary ideas. Our country will be powerful only when we are united," Congress leader Mukesh Nayak said.