CM's two-child move receives brickbats from other parties

The Opposition parties - Congress, JD(S) - have responded to the debate, by and large, with similar opinions. The Congress took serious exception to the CM’s stand to cut benefits, while the JD(S) said the resolution would not bring down the population explosion.

KPCC working president D K Shivakumar, speaking to press persons in Gulbarga expressed serious exception to such a resolution. “Denial of government benefits amounts to violation of fundamental right. Even if the State approves the two-child policy it is difficult to implement”, he said.

Former Health minister Dr H C Mahadevappa has questioned the necessity of a new policy when the national family planning programme is already in place. “Effective implementation of the programme serves the purpose. There is no need to bring in new policy”, he said.

Neither the Congress nor the JD(S) is against necessary measures to tackle population explosion. But they are cautious about the steps the state government wishes to adopt to achieve the lesser population growth.

JD(S) leader in the Legislative Council M C Nanaiah is of the view that growth of population could not be curtailed through laws. “Proper education to backward classes will be the best tool to tackle the issue,” he said.

The government is firm on its view. Minister for Women and Child Welfare P M Narendra Swamy said a strong law was needed to tackle population explosion in the country.