'Not Against Any Religion': UP Law Commission Chairman Hints At Population Control Policy

The UP Law Commission chairman said that the population in the state is nearing an explosive stage and people need to keep in check to get govt facilities and resources.

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Law commission chairman spoke on Sunday about keeping the population of the state in check and refraining from exploiting government resources. Aditya Nath Mittal spoke to ANI and said that the state government doesn't want to give a message that it is against any particular religion or basic human rights but keeping the population in check is much needed in the current situation.

Mittal said, "Population is nearing an explosive stage, causing other issues too -related to hospitals, foodgrains, houses, or employment. We believe that there should be a check on population...Population control is different from family planning."

The UP Law Commission Chairman further said, "We don't want to give a message in UP that we are against any particular religion or anyone's human rights. We just want to see to it that the govt resources and facilities are available to those who are helping in and contributing to population control"

Though Mittal's statement hints towards a population control policy in the state, there is no official confirmation regarding the same by the Yogi Adityanath government.

Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma echoed similar thoughts and said that the state government will gradually implement a two-child policy for availing benefits under specific schemes funded by the state.

The proposed population control policy will, however, not be applicable in all the schemes in Assam immediately as many of the benefits are offered by the central government, the Chief Minister said during the press conference.

A few weeks earlier, Sarma had faced criticism by AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi for his comment that “numerous social ills in Assam” could be overcome if the “immigrant Muslim community adopts decent family planning norms”.

“For their poverty to end, Muslim women need to be educated, the population needs to be controlled. I appeal to them to work together with us. We are there for all of you, to support women’s education and reduce poverty. But poverty will never be reduced unless you control your population,” he had said.