'Have three children at least for community's survival': RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat reignites population debate

'According to demographic studies, when the population of a community falls below a fertility rate of 2.1, that society faces extinction. It does not need external threats to vanish; it disappears on its own,' Bhagwat said at the 'Kathale Kul Sammelan’ in Nagpur on Sunday.

Mumbai: In a significant political development, RSS chief Dr Mohan Bhagwat reignited the population debate in India saying that the society will perish if its population growth rate falls below 2.1 and hence it needs to be at least 3.

Dr Bhagwat referred to ‘loksankhya shastra’ (demographic studies) to support his statement which he made at the 'Kathale Kul Sammelan’ in Nagpur on Sunday.

Dr Bhagwat flagged the issue of decline in population.

“According to demographic studies, when the population of a community falls below a fertility rate of 2.1, that society faces extinction. It does not need external threats to vanish; it disappears on its own. Many languages and societies have ceased to exist due to this. Therefore, our population must not fall below 2.1… a person does not get born at 0.1, hence it should be three (children),” he said.

According to Dr Bhagwat, the population should not go below 2.1 birth rate. He said that while India's population policy was decided in 1998 or 2002, "but it is also said in it that the population of a society should not be less than 2.1…the number is important because society should survive."

The statement of Dr Bhagwat has gone viral on social media platforms - inviting both positive and negative reactions.