West Bengal BJP Leader Says Hindu Women Should Produce Five Children to 'Balance' India and 'Protect' Hinduism

A West Bengal BJP leader has taken Sakshi Maharaj's appeal to Hindu women to have four children, a notch higher by saying they should have five children, prompting snide remarks.

"I would like to tell all my Hindu mothers and sisters that if they don't have five children, in future there will be no balance in India," NDTV quoted Shyamal Goswami as saying in Birbhum, West Bengal.

"Don't misunderstand me. If my Hindu mothers and sisters don't have five children, hardly any Hindus will be left in India. To protect Hinduism and Sanatan Dharma it is necessary for all Hindus to give birth to 5 children," he said.

It may be recalled that BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj had last week asked every Hindu woman in India should produce at least four children. 

Maharaj had also advised women on responsibilities that they should assign to their children, including their deployment at the Indo-Pak border to deal with ceasefire violations.

"This is why I... want to request women to give birth to at least four children. Give one to sadhus and ascetics. Media says there are ceasefire violations happening, so send another to the border," he had said on 6 January at the Sant Samagam Mahotsava in Uttar Pradesh's Meerut district.

The five-children remark has attracted flak from writer Chetan Bagat and many social media users.

Matrimonial ads for male BJP supporters might have line "Should be willing for min 4/5 Children" #SakshiMaharaj #ShyamalGoswami

"Looks like Shyamal Goswami of Bengal BJP. Party and MP Sakshi Maharaj are trolling @narendramodi when quoting number of children," tweeted Faieza Khan.

"This is progress, right India? | After Sakshi Maharaj, Shyamal Goswami of Bengal BJP has said that Hindu women should have 5 children," another twitterati Sahil Bhalla tweeted.