'A jihad of producing more children': Former BJP MP Harish Dwivedi's remarks stir row

NEW DELHI: Former BJP MP and party in-charge for Assam, Harish Dwivedi, made a controversial claim on Thursday, alleging that a specific community was waging a 'jihad' by producing more children to gain control of the country's political system and impose their religious beliefs. He said that the government was taking serious measures to address the situation.
"The people of a particular community are running a jihad of producing more children with the intention of capturing the country.It has become very important to stop this," Dwivedi told reporters according to news agency PTI.
In response to these remarks, Samajwadi Party leader and former MLC, Rajpal Kashyap, accused the BJP of using divisive rhetoric to distract from pressing issues such as unemployment and inflation. He argued that BJP leaders often resort to such statements to shift public attention from core problems.
Dwivedi further claimed that this community posed a significant threat to the country, asserting that their sole objective was to increase their population in order to take control of India's political system.
"This community has done vote and land jihad, and now they are running a jihad to increase their population. They aim to capture the country through the political system and run the country according to their religion and Shariat," he said.
Continuing his criticism, Dwivedi alleged that individuals within this community, despite facing severe economic hardships, were having numerous children. He argued that instead of educating them for productive roles in society, they were being used to exploit the system.
"The people of this community are conspiring to defame the Modi government by producing as many children as possible and then accusing the government of not providing them employment and basic amenities," he said.
Dwivedi suggested that the government was planning to take decisive steps to prevent the alleged intentions of this community.
Citing a recent law passed by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Dwivedi highlighted that people in Assam now have to disclose their religion and caste before marriage. He expressed optimism that such measures would curb practices like interfaith marriages and early marriages.
"After this law comes into force, the practice of marrying outside religion and at a young age will be stopped to a great extent," Dwivedi remarked.
He concluded by stating that if this law were implemented nationwide, it could significantly curb what he referred to as 'population jihad'.
"India will be run by the Constitution and law, and not by the religious rules of a community," he said.